Minister under fire over flats for sale

A DECISION by the Southern Hake Fishing Company at Luederitz to sell the flats in which its workers live sparked a protest march on Friday.

In a petition handed over to the town’s Deputy Mayor, Yvette Sylvestor, the workers expressed concern over the “unilateral decision” taken by the management to sell the 32 flats. “Their action to advertise for the sale in the newspaper is [an] autocratic decision because they were supposed to consult us workers who are affected in this matter,” the petition reads.The petition was handed over to Sylvestor because the company management apparently refused to receive it.The workers blamed the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore, who is also the company’s board chairman, for the unpopular decision.”We would like to challenge the Board of Directors for their unpopular decision, especially Honourable Willem Konjore as political and national leader for that matter.This is clear that Mr Konjore does not carry the workers’ interest at heart, but just cares about the company’s profit,” the petition claims.The workers charged that the company had violated a fishing quota contract it entered into with Government, as the quota was granted on the condition that it provided its workers with housing.”Does Konjore want us to go back to the ghetto (kambushu)? Konjore, how will you feel if someone got burn in the ghetto (sic)?” were some of the questions the workers want the Minister to answer.The workers demanded that the management rescind the decision to advertise the flats and also called for the immediate resignation of a certain Mrs Gig.The company was given three days to respond to the demands.When contacted for comment on Monday, Konjore declined to comment.He said he had not received any petition in this regard.Yesterday, it was not possible to reach Konjore to confirm whether he had received the petition in the meantime.Southern Hake Company Manager Jurgen Schroeter yesterday declined to comment.”Their action to advertise for the sale in the newspaper is [an] autocratic decision because they were supposed to consult us workers who are affected in this matter,” the petition reads.The petition was handed over to Sylvestor because the company management apparently refused to receive it.The workers blamed the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore, who is also the company’s board chairman, for the unpopular decision.”We would like to challenge the Board of Directors for their unpopular decision, especially Honourable Willem Konjore as political and national leader for that matter.This is clear that Mr Konjore does not carry the workers’ interest at heart, but just cares about the company’s profit,” the petition claims.The workers charged that the company had violated a fishing quota contract it entered into with Government, as the quota was granted on the condition that it provided its workers with housing.”Does Konjore want us to go back to the ghetto (kambushu)? Konjore, how will you feel if someone got burn in the ghetto (sic)?” were some of the questions the workers want the Minister to answer.The workers demanded that the management rescind the decision to advertise the flats and also called for the immediate resignation of a certain Mrs Gig.The company was given three days to respond to the demands.When contacted for comment on Monday, Konjore declined to comment.He said he had not received any petition in this regard.Yesterday, it was not possible to reach Konjore to confirm whether he had received the petition in the meantime.Southern Hake Company Manager Jurgen Schroeter yesterday declined to comment.