The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Fisheries and Marine Resources chaired by Hon. Neneh Lebbie has concluded six days on-site inspections to various licenses and registered industrial fishing Companies in the Eastern and western part of Freetown to ascertain the adverse effect of the COVId-19 on the daily operations of these Companies.
In all fishing companies visited, the Chairperson reiterated the point that, it is a Constitutional mandate for Committees to oversee Ministries, department and Agencies under its purview and the Committee on Fisheries has its Mandate to carry out as enshrined in Section 93 subsection 3 of the 1991 Constitution.
The Committee in close collaboration with official from the Ministry of Fisheries paid on the spot check to Fishing Companies. The Committee thoroughly inspected the entire facilities, ranging from document, cold room, labour issues, sanitation, adherence to fisheries regulations, cooperate social responsibilities and Challenges faced by these companies.
First visited was Chung Gang industrial fishing company at Kent in the Western Area Rural District in which committee members thoroughly inspected the entire facilities; ranging from books, cold room, workers payment, and environmental safety standards, overall the committee was not impressed on their job performance relating to documentations.
Next was white- pole Fishing Company at Kissy town Tombo community, the committee was very impressed with the organizational nature of the company and applauded the CEO and team for keeping safety standards high.
The committee also visited Brother Fishing Company at Tombo Community, the community was very impressed this time round unlike other visitation, and the committee acknowledged the positive transformational strives of management in up- keeping the facilities.
On the other hands, the Committee was very displeased on the operational activities of Korea Group Fishing Company at Tombo community, the committee finds out, improper documentations and poor staffing of the company. At Kombra Fishing Company at Clinton, the committee was very impressed on their operational activities and pleaded with them to adhere to their social cooperate responsibility.
The committee also visited Sierra Fishing Company at Kissy Dock yard, the overall visit by MPs was very impressive, documentations staffing, and hygiene and general maintenance of the facilities was at its best.
At Red Sea fishing company at Murray Town, the committee was not impressed on the environmental facilities of the company and also the lack of contractual agreements of workers working with the company.
The committee promised for recommendations of closer of their facility if they failed to adhere to the committee findings. The committee concluded their visitations at Sun HO Fishing Company at Murray Town and were impressed on its facilities
The committee promised to engage the Minister and Senior Officials of the Ministry of Marine Resources to address some of the challenges facing the marine sector.