Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Icelandic Minister of Environment, Energy, and Climate, Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, has decisively turned down the proposal made by McHenry Venaani, the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), urging the Icelandic government to reconsider its plan to provide a 100 million Icelandic krona renewable energy grant to the Samherji Company.
Venaani had written to Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir earlier this month, expressing concerns about the renewable energy grant offered to Samherji, a company allegedly involved in corrupt activities in Namibia’s fishing industry, now known as the fishrot scandal.
In response, Thórdarson emphasized that Samherji’s grant application was approved based on objective criteria prioritizing projects with rapid climate benefits.
“This grant can in no way be interpreted as support or recognition of the company with respect to its activities in Namibia,” he stated,
Thórdarson also stressed ongoing investigations into Samherji’s activities falling under Icelandic jurisdiction, particularly concerning compensation to alleged victims and holding the company accountable.
In his letter to Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir, Venaani raised moral concerns about subsidizing Samherji, a company implicated in corrupt practices in Namibia that have had a significant impact on the fishing industry.
Samherji is a prominent fish processing company in Iceland, recognized as the largest fishing company in the country and one of the largest in Europe.
However, the company has faced allegations of corruption in Namibia’s fishing industry, particularly in the Fishrot corruption scandal.
“This Icelandic company has been accused of paying significant bribes since 2012 to secure undue advantages in the Namibian fishing sector.
Their activities have been identified as a significant factor in what is now internationally known as the Fishrot Saga,” Venaani asserted.
He emphasized that Samherji’s involvement in the ongoing Fishrot case has adversely affected many innocent Namibians, resulting in job losses and even loss of life among some fishermen.
Moreover, Venaani pointed out that thousands of innocent fishermen have lost their livelihoods due to Samherji’s alleged unethical actions in Namibia.
The company’s purported involvement in corruption cases related to the Fishrot Saga has also tarnished Namibia’s international reputation.
