Shelburne Ship Repair the top topic for minister's visit

With economic issues specifically affecting Shelburne County, Economic Minister Percy Paris attended spent the day in Shelburne County to listen to both local government and residents of the county.

As each of the five mayors and wardens spoke their concerns of economic development a common theme was established.

The problems involving Shelburne Ship Repair and the ongoing negotiations regarding ownership and repair of the facility was at the top of the list of urgency for most of the local officials. “This government must do what you have to do to resolve this issue,” said Mayor of the Town of Shelburne, Al Delaney. “Shelburne County cannot take that extra stress…we don’t want to hear that the negotiations are nearly completed because we have heard this for seven years now…we need to bring back these jobs.”

Most of the five officials also spoke of the urgency to get Shelburne Ship Repair back in production. “We need to develop the Shelburne Marine Park,” said Warden of the Municipality of Shelburne, Sherman Embree. “First we need to retain the Shelburne Ship Repair and then we need for the province to supply funding to upstart a manufacturing industry.”

He relayed his vision to the minister of a marine centre of excellence including, fishing, boat building, ship repair and marine research. “I have heard the messages concerning Shelburne Ship Repair long before I came here,” said Minister Paris. “We will encourage the party’s to resolve the issue…we never want to see people out of work.”

Another topic voiced by all five municipal leaders was the closure of the emergency department, the state of local health care and the retention of physicians and nurses. “It is difficult for our small community to attract doctors and we can’t compete with the $100,000 incentives that these doctors are getting,” said Deputy Mayor of the Town of Shelburne, Elizabeth Acker.

A dissatisfaction of the Regional Development Authority the South West Shore Development Authority was expressed by all and a question was put forth asking if a locally controlled RDA could take its place. “We want control over our own destiny,” explained Mayor Delaney. “Everything has a life cycle,” responded Minister Paris. “We need to ask is it fulfilling its mandate and if not what needs to be changed.”

After the meeting Minister Paris said that he would take back the concerns expressed and to prepare a response. His number one urgency would be the Shelburne Ship Repair and plans to give “just another reminder from the minister to let’s complete this deal.”

He warned that the issues would take both time and money to be resolved.

But Gary Nickerson Union Representative for the workers of Shelburne Ship Repair said that time is critical before the county starts losing all of their skilled trades people. “It took the old government a year and a half to try to work on it and we can’t afford another year and a half before a decision is made,” said Nickerson.

Honks of support where heard down King Street in Shelburne as laid off workers from Shelburne Ship Repair joined together in a peaceful demonstration against the ongoing negotiations involving the sale of Shelburne Ship Repair and the subsequent lay offs and halting productions that have occurred.