The Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

¶ 01 [6.07 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, please grant my colleague Hon. Ravikaran some of my time as well.

¶ 03 Today, on behalf of Northern fishermen, I second this important Adjournment Motion by Hon. Ravikaran of the ITAK. This is a long-standing issue. The NPP appointed Hon. Chandrasegar via National List as Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources—placing a conundrum in his hands. Appointing a Tamil to this portfolio seems designed so Tamils will end up clashing among themselves.

¶ 04 Hon. Minister, responsibility to resolve Northern fishermen’s issues lies with you. Will the Government support you? Even if not, you, as a long-time JVP/NPP member, may find it hard to raise your voice against the Government from within. We will help you; we will exert pressure from outside. Tell Cabinet: “ITAK MPs are putting intense pressure on me; I cannot go to Parliament unless this stops; we must act immediately.” This is not an issue that can be ignored. The Northern marine resources are being destroyed, risking the very existence of ‘fishermen’ for future generations. This happened not only now but previously too.

¶ 05 In 2017 under “good governance,” Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran brought a Private Member’s Bill against illegal fishing; it later became law. Then, our fishermen did not face today’s level of problems. Why do I say this is a conundrum? Your predecessor, Hon. Douglas Devananda, failed to resolve this and could not return to Parliament partly for that reason. During 2020–2024 many MPs accused him in this House—Hansard shows this—of receiving a cut from those engaged in illegal fishing and thus acting against our fishermen. If you also fail to act, similar accusations may be levelled against you.