PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Empowerment and local entertainment promoter, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, has finally broken his silence on the controversial dolphin exports that his firm, McNeal Enterprises, facilitated for a Mexico-based company.
At a press briefing yesterday at the office of local attorney, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Mr. Lumumba introduced Mr. Kevin Dealy, Project Coordinator for Mexican wildlife importer/exporter FASIMMAR, who read a prepared statement on the dolphin export issue.
In his statement, Dealy - who was accompanied by his firm's Head of Operations, Mr. Francisco Garcia - said the dolphin export project was an exercise conducted solely by FASIMMAR of Mexico and that McNeal Enterprise was simply providing his company with basic assistance.
He said that all payments to the Department of Wildlife were made by directly by FASIMMAR and that McNeal Enterprise was never involved in any financial dealings with the department.
He said the company has acted in consistency with the Department of Wildlife guidelines as well as under CITES rules.
He said that his company is interested in resuming discussion with the government so as to continue acting in tandem with the relevant procedures.
In his statement, Lumumba said he had remained silent on the issue because he had wanted the principals of the venture - FASIMMAR - to speak on the matter before he made a public statement.
He said that his involvement in the matter was due to his interest in developing an aquatic fun park in Guyana.
Lumumba expanded on his statement saying that he originally had the idea of bringing a circus here and travelled to Barbados to see the Suarez Brothers circus in action there.
He said he was not convinced that the circus was a good idea but was put in contact with Mr. Garcia, who he says is an accomplished dolphin catcher and trainer.
Lumumba said the decision to have his company act as facilitator for the export of the dolphins was "bad judgement" on his part.
"It was never my desire to embarrass or in any way compromise the government which I am part of. In that sense my attachment to the project was inappropriate."
Lumumba added that in the interest of all the parties involved the appropriate agency should look into the management of the Department of Wildlife as it relates to present procedure, and with the issue of dolphins being a priority.
The dolphin export furore started several weeks ago when a ship transporting 11 bottle-nosed dolphins en route to Mexico from Guyana was interrupted by Venezuelan Coast Guard authorities.
The dolphins were part of a total of 25 purchased from Guyana by a then-unknown Mexican business, and facilitated by McNeal Enterprises.
After the story broke in the local media, it was discovered that proper procedure was not followed in relation to the export of the dolphins, especially as then Head of the Wildlife Authority, Khalawan reportedly did not consult with the Board of the Authority.
Khalawan claimed that he had received authorisation for the export from Head of the Presidential Secratariat, Dr Roger Luncheon.
Dr Luncheon denied giving Khalawan the go ahead for the exports, citing a correspondence to Khalawan detailing the conditions under which dolphins may be exported.
Khalawan was subsequently removed from his position as head of the department, with the board saying that it had lost confidence in his ability to perform his duties in that capacity.
As to the fate of the dolphins, Dealy yesterday said that the 11 held by the Venezuela authorities have been released as well as the 14 that were being held by the company in Guyana.
He said the dolphins have all been electronically tagged, and bear the serial code indicating that they belong to FARSIMMAR.
He said that the decision of whether or not the company will be given a chance to recapture the animals depends on the outcome of talks with the Guyana Government and the results of a matter pending with the Venezuelan authorities. (RUEL JOHNSON)