The one that got away

Letters to the Editor -

Dear Editor:

I am not surprised that this symposium was not attended by our representatives of government, as the fishery doesn't concern Premier Williams and his ABC team. The premier is thinking oil, oil, everywhere, and not the survival of our fishery.

He can only visualize our future generation in oilfield gear, not rubber boots and oilskins, fishing of the rugged coast of the rural areas of our province. He is not talking about the fishery to New Yorkers who love to come to Newfoundland to fish, hunt, and enjoy our traditional lifestyle. They are not concerned about oil and hydro.

However, the big CEOs get to listen to Premier Williams, who is trying very hard to do things his way. He invited New York businessmen to visit Churchill Falls, but not to our declining fish plants to see thousands of fishing boats tied up in port because of the federal Department of Fisheries' ridiculous rules and regulations, implemented by officials who have never been onboard a boat or seen a codfish, shrimp, or crab. They have never talked to the fishermen in a symposium like this.

What an opportunity they have ignored and given a deaf ear to, only because they would be confronted with the real reality of the declining fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador that other countries are still benefiting from.

I want to see Newfoundlanders get the most from our natural resources, especially our great hydro power. However, the Premier has to get more involved with the fishery because he is following in the footsteps of PM Stephen Harper, by ignoring the real problems Newfoundlanders have to challenge daily.

The future generation are those who are anxious about their present, not the possible future oil wealth, which will be good for the province and the people if administered by Newfoundland and Labrador and not other countries in years to come.

It is scary when you are on the outside of the fence looking in, but supporting our fishermen and their family's back home, is certainly an indication that others care and see the real problems that are not given attention by those who represent our people in governments.

It's very unfortunate that Premier Williams only sees what is beyond the surface and not what we see every day around our hometowns, the declining fishery. He is forgetting the pride of the people who have worked so hard to make our province what it is today.

Frank Blackwood