The ultimatum came as the firm, Netsiwill, alleged that its 15-boat fleet in Andros was being sabotaged, with some vessels being cut loose from their moorings during the night.
The attorneys, Charles Mackey and James Moxey, are arguing that theere is no legitimate reason why the boats should be impounded and are demanding a licence under the Fisheries Conversion Act.
They are also ready to hold the customs department “100 per cent liable” if any of Netsiwill’s vessels are damaged or destroyed while under their care and control.
Last night sources close to Netsiwill described the controversy as a “tempest in a teacup” and said Prime Minister Christie had “misdirected himself” by coming down hard against the fleet when it first appeared in Andros last November.
“He thought he was satisfying some forces and now he is satisfying nobody,” said one source”The government seems to want to keep certain people underfed so that they will go out and do their dirty work for them.”
At the time critics were convinced that the boats were Korean-owned. Last night, however, Netsiwill boss Earlin Williams said the ownership had been resolved because the Korean manufacturers of the boats had dissolved their mortgage arrangemants and handed over the fleet for a nominal one dollar fee.
This, he added, was a promotional gesture by the firm, which wants to sell more of its boats in the Bahamas and set up a manufacturing plant in North Andros.
With Bahamian ownership established, Mr. Williams said there was nothing to stop the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Alfred Gray from issuing a fishing licence.
Source: The Tribune
