The deep-sea fishing business which was embarked upon by the Rivers State Government in partnership with a private sector operator; Vijons Investments Nigeria Limited may have run into stormy waters.
All the trailers that were acquired for the scheme are now grounded.
Confirming the development through a letter that was written to the state governor, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and signed by a representative of the sailors who were operating the fishing trawlers, one Mr Ibifa Ayika, the sailors lamented that since they returned from one of their voyages on the 9th of January, 2010 they have not gone back to sea.
It was also revealed that their salaries have not been paid since October 27th, 2009 when they were engaged till now. Also, all the five trawlers have been grounded and have been parked at the popular Borokiri fishing terminal since 9th of January, 2010.
Ayika prayed the government to pay their outstanding salaries owed them since October last year till date, explaining that the non-payment of their salaries is causing them untold hardship.
Blaming the woes on the private company, the aggrieved sailors are also demanding the abrogation of the Memorandum of Understanding in respect of the scheme and a complete take over of the running of the scheme by the state government or in the alternative, enter into another partnership with a more credible company.
Special adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Aquaculture and Deepsea Fishing, Mr Briggs Kurotamunoye could not be reached for comments on the state of affairs of the scheme as at press time, but the said trawlers were sighted at the Borikiri fishing terminal.
The trawlers had been to sea only twice before they were grounded due to what a source called "shortage of fuel".
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