Opposition MP Parveen Bala has questioned why the people of Ovalau were not officially informed about Bumble Bee Seafoods ending its partnership with the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO), despite thousands of livelihoods depending on the company’s operations.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday during debate on a motion to grant a $20 million Government guarantee to PAFCO, Mr Bala accused the Government of failing to communicate the departure of the company’s major partner and provide a clear transition plan.
“In July this year, that partner left. How did the people of Ovalau learn of it? They did not learn of it from this Parliament, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and they did not learn it from the Ministerial Statement,” he said.
Mr Bala said concerns about PAFCO’s future had already been raised at the Lomaiviti Provincial Council in May amid fears that the company could close.
He claimed the public only received confirmation of Bumble Bee’s departure during a Fijian Media Association town hall meeting in Levuka, when PAFCO management disclosed that a new arrangement with a Spanish exporter had been secured.
“Mr. Speaker, Sir, a mother in Lovoni should not have to learn the fate of a livelihood at a town hall meeting,” he said.
Mr Bala demanded answers on when the Government first became aware of Bumble Bee’s intention to leave and what had happened to investments and loans associated with PAFCO’s cold storage facility, including a $9 million Government loan.
He also questioned the identity of the new Spanish partner and called for details of the agreement, including export volumes, prices per tonne and its duration.
“The public has a right to know, Mr. Speaker, Sir, these answers. This is a company that is 99.6 percent owned by the people of Fiji.”
Mr Bala said the absence of a publicly available transition plan was particularly concerning.
“The most serious failing is that no one can show us a transition plan.”
He also highlighted conflicting figures about PAFCO’s workforce.
While earlier statements referred to more than 400 employees, he said the Government’s announcement of the guarantee placed the workforce between 870 and more than 1,000, depending on operational requirements.
He noted that more than 70 per cent of the workers were women.
“So which is it? How many workers does PAFCO have today? How many have been rostered off, sent home or left without pay while they wait for fish?”
Mr Bala maintained that the Government needed to provide clear answers about PAFCO’s financial arrangements, workforce and future operations as Parliament considered the proposed $20 million guarantee.
