Representatives of the fisheries industry are confused about the public meeting held by workers and labour unionists in Walvis Bay last week, protesting against the retrenchment of 199 workers employed at Hangana Seafood. A demonstration was even held last Thursday to voice their anger. Two days later, Saturday, 24 January, a joint press statement by Hangana and NAFAU was issued, informing the public that retrenchments were already agreed on by 12 January. The statement further revealed that "lengthy negotiations" had started as far back as mid-December 2003. According to a high placed source in the fisheries industry, investors at the coast are worried about the future of their companies. "The union leadership agreed to retrenchments two weeks ago. Presumably, the affected employees were informed. Why did the mass protest and wild accusations against us investors still take place last week?" an investor, who preferred to remain anonymous, asked PLUS.