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Reid once again calls for public inquiry into ongoing FPI
fiasco April 27, 2006
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid is calling on government to finally be up-front
with the people of the province and initiate a public inquiry into the
ongoing situation regarding Fishery Products International (FPI) operations. "I was very surprised to learn that government is contemplating an arrangement that would allow FPI to sell all, or substantially all of their company," said Mr. Reid. "If this were to happen, government would in essence be eliminating the power of the FPI Act that governs the company. "I am also concerned that by allowing the Barry Group to purchase FPI’s assets, FPI and John Risley will be accomplishing through the back door what they couldn’t accomplish through the front door a few years ago. At that time, the NEOS bid was comprised of Mr. Barry and Mr. Risley. I am surprised and very concerned that government would even contemplate allowing this to happen. "First of all, eliminating the FPI Act would not protect the employees of that company. In addition, nobody knows how many plants Bill Barry would keep open; how many people he would employ; what will happen with FPI’s groundfish quotas; and how much fish would be processed in this province. There are so many questions that it reiterates the need for a public inquiry. "Furthermore, for a government to have known this information when the House of Assembly was open and not reveal it to the people of the province is unacceptable. We are learning new revelations regarding this fiasco on a daily basis, while the company’s employees in Fortune and Marystown are left hanging in the balance. It is unfair and government is morally obligated to put everything on the table immediately. If the NEOS bid was unacceptable to Premier Williams in 2002, why is he considering accepting it now? "If this government wants to find a solution to the FPI issue, I suggest they begin by initiating a public inquiry to ensure everything is made available for full public scrutiny. It is unacceptable for back room deals to take place with Bill Barry that may do nothing but destroy FPI and allow John Risley to walk away from the province with FPI’s most valued assets in the United States. The people of the province must be consulted and I call upon this government to move forward with a public inquiry immediately."
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