Mayor, trust lock horns over Lüderitz Crayfish Festival funding
Lüderitz mayor Phillippus Balhao has publicly denied any wrongdoing by the Lüderitz Town Council in the failure to transfer funds generated from selling a fishing quota into the account of the Lüderitz Crayfish Trust for the planning of the festival.
"I fail to understand how, where, when, by whom and under which authority an agreement could have been reached between the Lüderitz Town Council and the Lüderitz Crayfish Trust for this private trust to take charge and responsibility of millions of Namibia dollars annually, failing to follow the procurement procedures set out in the Local Authorities Act No. 23 of 1992,” he said in a statement issued earlier this month.
“I am the mayor and chairperson of the Lüderitz Town Council. I am not a member of the private trust, Lüderitz Crayfish Trust, and therefore have no legal standing over and within its structures. However, the Lüderitz Town Council is solely responsible for the annual quota allocation and funds annually derived from the sales of the annual fishing quota," he explained.
Review the matter
The festival is scheduled to take place from 29 April to 5 May in the southern coastal town.
Balhao accused the trust of failing to provide financial accountability to the town council for the funds transferred annually into its trust account.
"The quota allocation and existing trust are inherited from the previous council and to safeguard this council from any irregular and unlawful conduct, I will present your letter to the current Lüderitz Town Council to take the issue on review through a competent court to establish what's legal and not legal," he said.
Mayor’s response ‘inappropriate’
Alex Gawanab, chairperson of the trust, said the fisheries ministry issued the quota for the exclusive use of the festival trust and accused the mayor of "withholding" the funds deliberately.
"The money was to be transferred into the trust's account for the sole purpose of organising and planning the festival, but it has not been done. The money is still in the council's account. The mayor has taken it upon himself to detain the money as if it belongs to the council. The response by the mayor is inappropriate, and we would like to have a meeting with the council," he said.
Gawanab told Namibian Sun that he cannot disclose the amount of money allegedly being withheld.
He said planning is still continuing in hopes that a favourable outcome will be reached after the festival, making it possible for the planning committee to pay all creditors.
"I fail to understand how, where, when, by whom and under which authority an agreement could have been reached between the Lüderitz Town Council and the Lüderitz Crayfish Trust for this private trust to take charge and responsibility of millions of Namibia dollars annually, failing to follow the procurement procedures set out in the Local Authorities Act No. 23 of 1992,” he said in a statement issued earlier this month.
“I am the mayor and chairperson of the Lüderitz Town Council. I am not a member of the private trust, Lüderitz Crayfish Trust, and therefore have no legal standing over and within its structures. However, the Lüderitz Town Council is solely responsible for the annual quota allocation and funds annually derived from the sales of the annual fishing quota," he explained.
Review the matter
The festival is scheduled to take place from 29 April to 5 May in the southern coastal town.
Balhao accused the trust of failing to provide financial accountability to the town council for the funds transferred annually into its trust account.
"The quota allocation and existing trust are inherited from the previous council and to safeguard this council from any irregular and unlawful conduct, I will present your letter to the current Lüderitz Town Council to take the issue on review through a competent court to establish what's legal and not legal," he said.
Mayor’s response ‘inappropriate’
Alex Gawanab, chairperson of the trust, said the fisheries ministry issued the quota for the exclusive use of the festival trust and accused the mayor of "withholding" the funds deliberately.
"The money was to be transferred into the trust's account for the sole purpose of organising and planning the festival, but it has not been done. The money is still in the council's account. The mayor has taken it upon himself to detain the money as if it belongs to the council. The response by the mayor is inappropriate, and we would like to have a meeting with the council," he said.
Gawanab told Namibian Sun that he cannot disclose the amount of money allegedly being withheld.
He said planning is still continuing in hopes that a favourable outcome will be reached after the festival, making it possible for the planning committee to pay all creditors.
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