May 12, 2011
MEDIA RELEASE…
May 12th, 2011
Poor catches, bad weather and prices are enough to contend with this lobster season, however, the PEI Fishermen’s Association remains adamant that disparaging comments by MLA Jim Bagnall in the legislature on April 19th still require a retraction by the ill-informed MLA.
In the house, Jim Bagnall indicated that "four or five fishermen" told him that they were upset to learn that the President of the PEIFA is making $91,000 a year.
The fishermen, he stated, also think this money may be being paid "under the table".
Both these accusations brought to the legislature by Jim Bagnall are untrue and Bagnall should apologize to both President Mike McGeoghegan and the PEIFA for these unsubstantiated, inflammatory remarks.
Later in the house, Fisheries Minister, Neil LeClair told Bagnall that $10,000 was the correct figure.
This honorarium has been verified by the association.
The PEIFA is a non-profit professional organization of 1300 fishermen and will not have its honesty and integrity brought into question by rumours circulated on behalf of unnamed fishermen by MLA, Jim Bagnall.
A written request sent on April 26th to the opposition office asking for a formal apology for the erroneous and unsubstantiated comments have not received a written response.
Mr Bagnall's attempt to undermine the PEI Fishermen's Association flies in the face of Leader Olive Crane's vision of revitalizing PEI's rural economy. The PEIFA represents men and women in that rural economy and remains committed to upholding the integrity of the PEIFA and its president in the face of these wild accusations.
Mr Bagnall and leader Olive Crane need to set the record straight. Jim Bagnall got it wrong and used poor judgement to bring the question of an outrageous payment to the voluntary president to the floor of the legislature, based solely on rumours.
"All he needed to do was to call us and we would have provided accurate information, sadly," says Executive Director, Ian MacPherson, "he did not do that."
We continue to demand that both the opposition office and Mr.Bagnall do the right thing and set the record straight with respect these false allegations from "four or five" uninformed, unnamed fishermen. There are many other issues with respect to price and markets to deal with in the fishery; however, on behalf of our fishermen we will not allow these allegations to go unchallenged.
For more information, please contact Ian MacPherson, PEIFA Executive Director, at 566-4050.
Telephone: (902) 566-4050
Fax: 902-368-3748
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