The Workers Association of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has expressed a vote of no confidence in the directorship of Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, the Director General of NaFAA. This decision arises due to consistent violations of the Hunan Resource Manual of NaFAA, the Fisheries Management Law of 2019, the National Code of Conduct for Public Officials, and the Decent Work Act of Liberia 2015.
The workers say ever since the appointment of Madam Glassco in 2018, her reign has been characterized by constant unwelcomed workplace harassment of staff, deduction of staff salary without remitting to NASSCORP, seizing seagoing fishery observers’ insurance allowance benefits, unreasonable administrative sanctions, undue denial of staff for capacity building training, refusal to pay employees’ wages, unplanned job change, assigning task beyond a person skill, intimidation using repeated threat of dismissal, and salary disparity immensely influenced by political affiliation.
These actions of Madam Glassco constitute a gross violation of Section 2.7 of the NaFAA Human Resource Manual. Moreover, termination of employees on study leave, which is against Section 6.6 of the same HR Manual, highlights a serious violation, as it mandates full salary payment for the first 6 months and half salary after that.
Madam Glassco’s refusal to appoint the Fisheries Advisory Council, as Section 3.3 of the Fisheries Management Law requires, indicates an intent to monopolize control over Liberia’s fishery resources. Furthermore, the unauthorized extension of permits for three Spain-Senegalese shrimp fishing vessels in the EEZ from six months to two years, without adequate oversight, breaches Section 10.24 of the Fisheries Management Law.
This illegal operation degrades the marine environment, violates international agreements including the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and has caused a significant decline in artisanal catch rates. It also damages Liberia’s relationships with fisheries development partners, ceasing crucial training and sustainable programs.
The Workers Association calls on international partners and stakeholders in the fisheries sector to refrain from doing business with Emma Glassco in the best interest of the Liberian fisheries sector while the Board of Directors of NaFAA and the Office of the President address these concerns promptly and transparently. For the stability and effectiveness of NaFAA’s operations, this issue must be resolved swiftly and justly.
A smoothly functioning fisheries sector is crucial for our nation’s prosperity. We urge all stakeholders, including the Fisheries Committees of the Legislature, the Judiciary, civil society, international partners, and concerned individuals, to ensure NaFAA operates with integrity and accountability.
“We reiterate our vote of no confidence in Madam Emma Metieh Glassco’s leadership and demand intervention from the board to resolve this matter satisfactorily,” the workers maintained.
