FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1993
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FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES FOR MARICULTURISTS
A
THE FINANCE COMMITTER, AT ITS MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY), APPROVED PROPOSAL FOR THE PAYMENT OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES TO MARICULTURISTS AFFECTED BY DREDGING OR DUMPING PROJECTS, IN CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER EXTINGUISHMENT.
THAN
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID AS SUCH CURRENT PROJECTS IN INSHORE WATERS MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY DETERIORATION IN WATER QUALITY IN CERTAIN FISH CULTURE ZONES, SOME MARI CULTURISTS MAY SUFFER TEMPORARY ECONOMIC LOSS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EXISTING PROVISION FOR PAYMENT OF EX- GRATIA ALLOWANCES TO MARICULTURISTS IN CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN
EXTINGUISHMENT AND RELOCATION.
THE PROPOSAL THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT MARICULTURISTS SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WHEN THE CONCENTRATION OF SOLID MATTER SUSPENDED IN THE AFFECTED WATERS OF FISH CULTURE ZONES EITHER :
REACHES 100 PER CENT MORE THAN THE HIGHEST LEVEL RECORDED AT
THE ZONE DURING THE FIVE YEARS BEFORE WORKS IN THE VICINITY START; OR
本 REACHES 50 MG PER LITRE.
ELIGIBLE MARICULTURISTS
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE AN
IRREVOCABLE OPTION BEFORE ANY EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE IS PAID. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OPT TO :
CONTINUE MARICULTURE IN THE SAME PLACE AT THEIR OWN RISK, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLF FOR AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO 50 PER CENT OF NOTIONAL LOSS OF INCOME FOR A NORMAL TWO-YEAR FISH CULTURE CYCLE; OR
SUSPEND MARICULTURE OPERATIONS FOR TWO YEARS, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO NOTIONAL LOSS OF INCOME FOR A NORMAL TWO-YEAR FISH CULTURE CYCLE; OR
CEASE MARICULTURE OPERATIONS PERMANENTLY, IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE EXISTING EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE PAYABLE FOR EXTINGUISHMENT, WHICH CONTAINS ELEMENTS FOR NOTIONAL LOSS OF INCOME FOR TWO YEARS AND LOSS OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN RAFTS AND CAGES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OPTION WAS MADE IRREVOCABLE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLICITY AND TO PREVENT ABUSE AND THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, AS THE REGULATORY
FOR FISH CULTURE. WOULD ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
AUTHOR 1 TY
ALLOWANCES WILL BE
ALL MARICULTURISTS
THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE NEW EX-GRATIA BACKDATED TO DECEMBER 1, 1992, THIS WILL ENABLE
MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT PROGRAMME OF WORKS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT CLAIMS IF ELIGIBLE TO DO SO.
WHO
THE MAXIMUM FINANCIAL IMPLICATION FOR THIS EX-GRATIA ARRANGEMENT IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $66.5 MILLION.
ALLOWANCE
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