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Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

Massiah Stands Up To CriticismAntigua St. John's - Antigua and Barbuda’s Alternate Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, Senator Joanne Massiah, is standing up to criticism from environmentalists on the country’s pro-whaling stance at the IWC.

Massiah said while Antigua and Barbuda may not be actively involved in whaling at the moment, this does not mean that the country should not have a say in how the resources of the ocean are exploited.

“The bottom line is, unless we participate in these international meetings, we are going to have people far remote from us, making decisions about what we can and cannot eat when they have no interest in our country,” she insisted.

The IWC commissioner who was part of the just concluded 64th IWC meeting in Panama City, Panama, noted that Antigua and Barbuda is part of the OECS and that one of its members, St Vincent and the Grenadines, is currently involved in hunting whales.

“As we tend to do in the region, we vote as a bloc; we support each other because the issues that touch and concern St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica or Grenada, touch and concern us here in Antigua and Barbuda,” she explained.



Massiah said Antigua and Barbuda acted in its ‘own self-interest’ when it cast its vote in favour of continued whaling by countries engaged in the activity.

“The reasons why we support sustainable use (of the ocean’s resources) are very sound. We are an island-nation surrounded by water and the issues here concern the marine resources of the ocean, are matters to which we have to pay attention,” she added.

The senator noted that the ocean has historically been a tremendous source of livelihood for a number of people in the region.

“I think the fact that we have been able to sustain our management of our marine resources speaks well for a developing country,” she noted.

Antigua and Barbuda and the OECS countries have been under tremendous international pressure to back away from their pro-whaling stance, a move interpreted by many as a support for Japan on the highly contentious issue.

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13 Comments In This Article   

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@ Tenman - YouTube Informs on A&B's Whaling Position!

#13 John French II » 2012-07-24 15:30

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Friend, my worst fears are being exposed globally. As noted a few days ago, the 90 minute documentary has been further condensed into a 4 minute YouTube video which features heavily on the OECS and Antigua & Barbuda.
Let us hope that this does not go viral and gives the North Atlantics more ammo to come after us.
The words of our reps, even though Ambassador Mamba Liverpool was quick with a response, shows that we were not as prepared for the Big Leagues as we should have been. here is where fnpsr, morris & skyewill are correct.
The lady Senator will Rue the Day for her statement: Quote:
My Only Interaction with Whales is What I See On Television - Senator Joanne Massiah.
GoAB, Cabinet &The People cannot be satisfied with that statement, no matter how truthful it is, knowing that the North Atlantics will do every and anything to embar** and if they can punish this SIDS & The OECS.
Let us hope & pray that they do not wage the ultimate battle of Boycott!
Go Well! With Respect!
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John French II

RE: Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

#12 Spin Doctor » 2012-07-24 13:48

Antigua ** itself to the Japanese

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Pvycdgp0g
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Spin Doctor

@ Tenman - Money Talks & Noblesse Oblige Walks!

#11 John French II » 2012-07-23 03:58

Notes From A Native Son Of Rock. Just saw a riveting documentary. Our GoAB's Officials must be aware that what they do and say is forever captured and becomes part of this SIDS History.
If you think that my comments were funny, you should have seen the Good Hon. Senator's Response in the documentary as to what whales were to be found in our waters. She stated that her experience with whales were through the TV. Atleast Ambassador "Mamba" was quick to state that he believed that humpbacks travelled through our waters.
"Pay Attention!" These documentaries could be precursors to Boycotts by the North Atlantics.
www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episode/the-cove.html
Hope you are enjoying Nate Silver's Five Thirty Eight - the number of electoral votes which is where the gaming action is.
Go Well! Respect!
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John French II

RE: Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

#10 Boycott ~ NO JOKE » 2012-07-19 00:53

I hope the Japanese are paying enough for that vote that xxxx can not only take xxx cut, but also support the few hundred tourism industry workers xxx sending to the breadline.
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Boycott ~ NO JOKE

@Fed Up...fooley talk

#9 Jane » 2012-07-18 20:07

Ms. Massiah appears to make a habit of trying to sound authoritative on this issue as can be seen in her email response to my protest email to her in 2007…Despite the bad spelling I found it came over as an arrogant effort to somewhat demean my intelligence; and that from someone who I, personally, do not credit with much knowledge on the issue of “sustainability ” in a fish pond far less marine Mammal/Species protection….cop y of her email below…….

Dear Jane:
Thanks for your mail. Perhaps, one day we can sit and discuss A&B's position as it relates to the principles of sustainable use of all living marine resources and where we see ourselves as a developing island state and our responsibilitie s as they relate to fisheries generally, the protction of our EEZ, the transitioning of our economy etc.
Regards,
Joanne M. Massiah
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Jane

John French II- money talks

#8 tenman » 2012-07-18 17:43

John French, Dadlison and Fed Up

John, you had me cracking up. Dadlison and Fed Up, Joanne is a lawyer. Before 2004, her party used to be against the government stance on whaling.

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tenman

Wake up

#7 Roddy » 2012-07-18 15:14

Maybe she meant to say we have been ' sustaining mismanagement' of our marine resources? Has she managed to miss all the recent publicity regarding this issue? People are no longer taking the 'official' word on what is really happening in Antigua because of public forums like this. Wake up!
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Roddy

RE: Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

#6 Fed Up » 2012-07-18 11:18

“I think the fact that we have been able to sustain our management of our marine resources speaks well for a developing country,"

I don't know what Joanne is xxoxing or xxixxing but she should stop, it's affecting her brain, making her come out with all kind of fooley talk. Since when did A & B have any kind of sustained management of our marine resources ??
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Fed Up

Lost Credibility

#5 dadlison » 2012-07-18 10:54

She actually had me agreeing with her until her last sentence:

“I think the fact that we have been able to sustain our management of our marine resources speaks well for a developing country,"

The fact that she is so blatantly unaware that we have failed quite miserably in sustaining our marine resources causes me to dismiss her as uninformed and disregard the rest of her statement entirely.
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dadlison

RE: Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

#4 Reality » 2012-07-18 10:40

Here's the thing with being "Wrong and Strong":

First you have to be strong. Is Antigua's economy strong enough to take another hit to tourism? Remember "Sir Allen isn't paying the bills, is there some plan to have Japan take over his role in funding the government?
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Reality

RE: Massiah Stands Up To Criticism Over Whaling

#3 Big Bad Wolf » 2012-07-18 09:22

What is Joanne saying? I tried to process her "words" and got garbage. :-x
How much did you get for per diem on this trip? e?
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Big Bad Wolf

vote

#2 help » 2012-07-18 06:46

Hope the good person VOTE for the regulating of our own fishers! Oh Yes! Japan give them Things and our poor people cannot give Them anything. I guess that mean it go sit on Baptist Desk until we VOTE Him Out!
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help

Noblesse Oblige!

#1 John French II » 2012-07-18 04:50

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Here is the Good Lady Senator without a hint of "Ethical Badmindedness": Quote:
“I think the fact that we have been able to sustain our management of our marine resources speaks well for a developing country,” she noted.
This senator has never been on the seas and unlike Dorothy in the Wizzard of OZ has not met the Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spaniards or Orientals on their marauding plunders. Hopefully as she enters NEMMA from Devil's Bridge she will meet Damballa amidst the roaring waves, see the disembodied fishery and hear his booming voice as he considers granting her wish if she would kindly bring him the Hon.Min. of Fisheries gold chain.
Then it will be on to ABCCAT.
Have Mercy Pon Us.
Heaven Help The Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda including Redonda.
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John French II

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