Letters to the Editor -
Dear editor,
I cannot see Minister Clyde Jackman making any changes to the Newfoundland fishery. The former minister Tom Henderson supposedly knew everything about the fishery, and what did he do to help our fishing industry? Absolutely nothing! Now, Premier Danny Williams has minted Minister Jackman into the sweet talking category or status, and he has never been in a fishing boat. Remember when Ottawa appointed MP Tom Sinden as the new Federal Minister of Fisheries. He had never seen a motorboat or cod jigger. He was even afraid to climb aboard a longliner. If Premier Williams had selected MLA Harry Harding as the Minister of Fisheries, it would be a different quintal of fish. Mr. Harding knows the fishery better than the back of his hand. The big problem here is Premier Williams doesn't like to have ministers that are supposedly wiser than him.
Minister Jackman has made a real mess of tourism, and this coming year many will see his last decision of taking away workers in the tourist industry from rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Those workers have been very efficient in helping tourists to discover rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Once you hit Clarenville, your adventure begins because the Tourist Bureau employees in St. John's are focused on their city and don't seem to listen once you ask about Clarenville, Trinity, Bonavista and St. Anthony and Northern Labrador. This is why we need tourist information workers around rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
How many tourists know about the Port Au Port Peninsula? This part of Newfoundland is as breathtaking as any other part of our rugged coast. Remember, for any other industry to survive, we still need the tourist to come onboard. The worst thing that Minister Jackman could do before his minted portfolio ends is to come close to closing down the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery. He can then join the world stage with the European Parliamentarians who supported the IFAW and the ban on imported seal products from Atlantic Canada. Otherwise, he can also prove to us that he means business and will clean up the mess our fishery is in. Then I would place him as the greatest fishery minister of the times.
Frank Blackwood
Richmond Hill, ON
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