Mayor says government leaving Bay de Verde 'empty-handed'

A massive cleanup is well underway in Bay de Verde, but the mayor said help from the Newfoundland and Labradorgovernment is noticeably absent from the efforts to carry on after adevastating fish plant fire.

• Massive fire destroys Bay de Verde fish plant
• Quinlans scramble to rebuild Bay de Verde plant, for cod as well as crab

Gerard Murphysaid material from the plant is being removed, and he believes QuinlanBrothers are on track to keep their promise to rebuild their fish plant in Bay de Verde.

Two weeks after hundreds of people in the town watched the fish processing plant burn to the ground, Murphy said the company is doing a lot to give people hope.

"They've done their utmost, above and beyond, in my opinion, what would be their corporate responsibility," the mayor toldCBC's St. John's Morning Show.

"In terms of the provincial government, they came empty-handed, and they really haven't provided anything."

Murphy said he asked the government for an income subsidy or supplement to help people rebuild.

• Bay de Verde mayor wants 'income supplement' for displaced plant workers

"However, I came up empty-handed."

"Most of these workers will have decreased income, significantly, during this season, which of course translates into decreased [employment insurance] benefits in the off-season," said Murphy.

He said the people of Bay de Verde are still hoping the government will step up and offer some substantive help.

Moving forward

"Everything seems to be moving forward at a much slower pace but all the same it's moving forward," said Murphy.

More than 350 displaced plant workers are now working at plants in Brigus, Winterton, and Old Perlican,with roughly 40 temporary foreign workers from Thailand working at a plant in P.E.I.

Murphy said the season for plant workers is short as it is, so at least they have some work.