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Pullicino tells fishermen he is ready to listen and discuss
The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs urges cooperative to continue talks with Fisheries Department and insists Minister George Pullicino is ready to listen and discuss.
22 December 2011, 12:00am
Jurgen Balzan
Jurgen Balzan
1 min read
On Wednesday, the fishing community organised a protest against rural affairs minister George Pullicino over the fisheries management plan.
The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA) accused the fisheries cooperative of publishing incorrect information in regards to funding received by the fishing industry. The MRRA said it had replied to questions put forward by the cooperative's secretary Pawlu Picopo by email, yet the cooperative insisted on publishing incorrect information.
The MRRA said Piscopo requested information in regards to funds allocated to the fishing industry to date.
In a detailed breakdown the MRRA said that since joining the EU in 2004, Malta's fishing industry received €15 million in EU funds in addition to other funds in State Aid and pre-accession funds.
The MRRA said €11,163,105 in EU funds were either received or expected for the 2004-2013 period with €1,900,00 going to permanent cessation schemes. In addition a further €3,600,252 were allocated to fleet renewal, marketing campaigns, modernisation, aquaculture, improving port facilities and cold store facilities.
The MRRA insisted that after yesterday's meeting and protests, the Ministry's officials remain disposed to meet and discuss as they indeed demonstrated yesterday evening. The MRRA said arrogance was shown by whoever expressed disapproval before receiving the information concerned.
In regards to the fisherman who was the beneficiary of EU funds for damaged vessels, the MRRA said the implicated fisherman applied for the said funds voluntarily. The MRRA said he received the funds on his own merit after meeting the criteria. The MRRA added that the schemes in question are part of the fisheries operative programme, which was also approved by the cooperative.
The ministry appealed to the fisheries cooperative to continue the talks with the Fisheries Department. It also maintained the Ministers availability to listen and discuss.
Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.
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The Koperattiva has asked the MRRA information by an email. No comment has been done from our side since that information have been given. Koperattiva is waiting for talks to resume.
Should the MRRA wants to get discussions in the Press the Koperattiva does not hesitate to do so.
Regarding the amount mentioned for demolition of the vessels the Koperattiva would like to remind the public that those money are being paid to the fishermen so they will destroy their vessels which they have paid with their hard works and lots of sacrifices. There fore those funds are no gifts.
MRRA is failing to say that warning emails (to ll concerned parties) that the Governments program was getting the fisheries industry to a disaster. Yet such report was sent. Now they blame it on the US. They know that at some piont we have to tell the fishermen.
Luke Camilleri •
Hemm xi arrangament li sar minn taht.... u ma nzammx?
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Maybe you will listen but you cannot do otherwise because you have to do what your EU masters in Brussels order you to do and you just have to say Yes Sir.
