Inland Fish Institute not closed: Minister

MINISTER of Fisheries, Dr Abraham Iyambo, yesterday denied that Government plans to close down the Hardap Inland Fish Institute, which provides aquaculture extension services in the Karas, Hardap, Omaheke and Erongo regions.

Iyambo’s remarks followed workers’ complaints to The Namibian. The workers had expressed dismay about the closure of the institute, which has been operational since 1984.They expressed unwillingness to be transferred to a new aquaculture research centre under construction in the Kavango Region near Divundu.They cited a lack of health and education facilities in that area.The new centre, expected to be inaugurated in May, will also provide aquaculture extension services.The workers also complained about the outsourcing of fish breeding to a private consultant, Fritz Nasilowski of Eco Fish Farm at the Hardap Dam.Iyambo played down the workers’ allegations, saying Government’s decision to move the research function to the new centre in the northeast was a “strategic move” based on the Kavango Region’s river systems.He said operations such as distribution, production and development, as well as some research, will continue at the Hardap.”There are no plans to halt all operations at the institute,” he said.The outsourcing of a part of the inland fish production to Eco Fish Farm was in line with Government’s aims to promote private-public partnerships, Iyambo said.The Minister also poured cold water on the workers’ complaints about a lack of health and education facilities at Divundu, saying these facilities were just a few kilometres from the new research centre.He added that the Ministry would provide transport for workers and their families to reach these facilities.Iyambo lashed out at civil servants who are not willing to be transferred to other regions of the country.The workers had expressed dismay about the closure of the institute, which has been operational since 1984.They expressed unwillingness to be transferred to a new aquaculture research centre under construction in the Kavango Region near Divundu.They cited a lack of health and education facilities in that area.The new centre, expected to be inaugurated in May, will also provide aquaculture extension services.The workers also complained about the outsourcing of fish breeding to a private consultant, Fritz Nasilowski of Eco Fish Farm at the Hardap Dam.Iyambo played down the workers’ allegations, saying Government’s decision to move the research function to the new centre in the northeast was a “strategic move” based on the Kavango Region’s river systems.He said operations such as distribution, production and development, as well as some research, will continue at the Hardap.”There are no plans to halt all operations at the institute,” he said.The outsourcing of a part of the inland fish production to Eco Fish Farm was in line with Government’s aims to promote private-public partnerships, Iyambo said.The Minister also poured cold water on the workers’ complaints about a lack of health and education facilities at Divundu, saying these facilities were just a few kilometres from the new research centre.He added that the Ministry would provide transport for workers and their families to reach these facilities.Iyambo lashed out at civil servants who are not willing to be transferred to other regions of the country.