Deepthroat letter from the Philippines re; MAC

[clarionreef]

Hello people,
I was sent this as is....I have not touched a word of it and copy it here as I received it.
It does confirm many things we know and suggest much we didn't.
Steve
_____________________________________________________________

This post has been edited because Reef Check Foundation has alleged libel and threatened possible litigation. Due to the gravity of these allegations, make sure you are able to substantiate allegations with support (heresy does not qualify). It's a good idea to approach such issues in a manner becoming of professional journalism.

While you are all familiar with Reefs.org's staunch devotion to free speech, I hope you can understand our decision to edit this post is for the purpose of continued welfare for our community.

-Len

 

[clarionreef]

Mark wrote;
"Hey thanks Gresham, but the saga continues on.... getting even better..
"

OK Mark,

Heres our own thread....and we're all ears.
Steve

 

[dizzy]

Who is the mysterious pinoyboydavao? Concerned whistle blower or disgruntled ex-employee? Judging from the sentence structure and choice of words, it appears to have been written by a Westerner or someone with an extremely good command of American English.
Mitch

 

[clarionreef]

Mitch,
Theyre all disgruntled employees...er...ex employees.
The attrition rate at that place is amazing.
Virtually everyone we have met at earlier conferences is gone.

From the earlier crew that we have met at conferences....only the captain remains...to blame everyone else for his leadership failures.

Steve
I just cant figure out his identity either....but he makes Mark look good for standing up for something to an imperious, brittle and intransigent authority.

 

[Anonymous]

backs up my immediate pegging of holthus from his ridiculous #reefs talk


what a horses a** (but then i've already said that numerous times, heh)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing Steve.

It would be really nice to get more of this out in the open too.. - Enough of the public has been fleeced over the years that many hobbyists (myself included - for a time) have gotten in line with an obviously ineffective waste of $$, time and probably many other resources. It would be nice to see the truth shine through finally.

Norm

 

[Anonymous]

However, I must ask...is the outing of all the MAC dirty laundry going to solve anything, other than to bring it to light?

If it's all true, how can Holthus be held accountable and possibly removed?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

MAC is run by a Board Of Directors Chip. Holthus unfortunatly is Pres fo life

 

[Jaime Baquero]

However, I must ask...is the outing of all the MAC dirty laundry going to solve anything, other than to bring it to light?

If it's all true, how can Holthus be held accountable and possibly removed?

Peace,

Chip

Marillion,

To allow this type of messages the sender should identify him/herself.

 

[Anonymous]

:?:

 

[sdcfish]

Let's all remember that there are truth's and falsehoods in most of what we read, so let's not all take this letter as being 100% credible.

The letter is damaging not only to MAC, but others mentioned as well, and I personally do not believe or agree with everything that was said as I know some statements to be totally false.

Whoever did write that letter knows what is truth and not, but just the fact that this is an anomonous letter really shows the lack of credibility in it.

Grains of salt my friends.

Best regards

Eric

 

[dizzy]

I guess we'll all just have to wait until Mark's book comes out to learn the truth. :wink:

 

[clarionreef]

The letter is but a tip of the iceberg and the views of much of it are shared by many ex-employees of MAC.
There is still more....much more to reveal but this one in particular struck a nerve as it portrays a general meltdown of relationships in all things MAC.
We have a 3 year achive here on RDO chronicling MACs non performance and I was villified for it often as I recall.
As the truth comes out ....and it will...I wouldn't mind some vindication....and expect the most credible witnesses to be the ones who were so misled all those years.
However....the 'non disclosure clause' they are forced to sign and the threat of reprisal has been keeping them in check.
Still...I fail to see how the cause of the coral reefs, the trades betterment and the lot in life of fisherman are served by continued tolerance for this outfit that has so betrayed its trust.
The trade will fall under increasing scrutiny and threat of regulation and MAC is our defense? Our fig-leaf?
Please tell me we can do better then this.
Steve
PS. A leadership change could perhaps save something of their legacy.
But their enemies list in the Philippines is so long now that it has to come soon.

 

[mark@mac]

ok guys,

still no word from any rdo staff on helping me change my name, so just to clarify, I am no longer working with MAC, but what the heck, I might just keep the name....

for what it's worth, perhaps i will begin to write a little something down regularly to try and answer questions and clarify some of the "mysteries" and misinformation here.....

If any of you have specific questions ask away and I will do my best to answer them. I do not however know everything like a few of you here.

First of all I want to say that I believe in the MAC mission and there have been some positive results, just not nearly enough.
I will be happy to describe some my experiences since ya'll asked.

Secondly, I commend those industry operators who stepped up and at least tried to make it work by going through certification process and working with MAC to MAKE THIS INDUSTRY BETTER. I believe it is going to take great collective efforts from everywere to do what needs to be done to preserve our oceans through managed use.

After working and living all over the Phils this past year + I believe there is definitely a need for an org like MAC but better, more inclusive of ALL the problems at the village level..... live food fishing issues, education, etc... Just a few examples, many of you already know that the handling is probably one of the biggest problems and one that I worked to remedy with better more comprehensive training and enhanced education (ocean awareness, diver safety, etc.)

Another of course is where cyanide and explosives are used..... I met many cyanide fisherman around the country and some spoke with us openly about their practices. It was amazing!!!! a few told us how often, how many kilos, and how much the cyanide cost!!!! I believe that some fisherman really don't realize it is bad....
The good news is that I believe many of those cyanide fisherman are willing to change and learn to manage thier own resource better.

I snorkeled and dove some really beautiful coral reefs as well as some with very few fish and some which had been blown to smitherines as they say.......

until next time....

cheers 8)

 

[PeterIMA]

The letter sounds like it came from someone with a detailed knowledge of the MAC, its programs, personnel, and financial operations. The most likely suspects are one or more of those listed for lack of performance, who were either fired or forced to resign.

I think it was deliberately sent to Steve Robinson, so he could be blamed for creating the message. He has posted it here on Reefs.Org. But, I don't believe that Steve wrote it, and neither did Ferdinand Cruz (personal communications). Knowledgeable sources have confirmed that most of what is presented is true and factual. The parts that are the most damaging are the allegations of financial impropriety. I have not been able to confirm or negate these allegations.

I would agree with Steve that the MAC to save itself, needs new leadership. Perhaps it is not too late to put the MAC on track to achieve the goals outlined in the MAMTI proposal.

Peter Rubec

 

[Anonymous]

The letter sounds like it came from someone with a detailed knowledge of the MAC, its programs, personnel, and financial operations. The most likely suspects are one or more of those listed for lack of performance, who were either fired or forced to resign.

I think it was deliberately sent to Steve Robinson, so he could be blamed for creating the message. He has posted it here on Reefs.Org. But, I don't believe that Steve wrote it, and neither did Ferdinand Cruz (personal communications). Knowledgeable sources have confirmed that most of what is presented is true and factual. The parts that are the most damaging are the allegations of financial impropriety. I have not been able to confirm or negate these allegations.

I would agree with Steve that the MAC to save itself, needs new leadership. Perhaps it is not too late to put the MAC on track to achieve the goals outlined in the MAMTI proposal.

Peter Rubec

er- i believe the point is that those who were forced to resign did so because they didn't want to be in the suspect list :wink:

 

[Jaime Baquero]

The letter sounds like it came from someone with a detailed knowledge of the MAC, its programs, personnel, and financial operations. The most likely suspects are one or more of those listed for lack of performance, who were either fired or forced to resign.

I think it was deliberately sent to Steve Robinson, so he could be blamed for creating the message. He has posted it here on Reefs.Org. But, I don't believe that Steve wrote it, and neither did Ferdinand Cruz (personal communications). Knowledgeable sources have confirmed that most of what is presented is true and factual. The parts that are the most damaging are the allegations of financial impropriety. I have not been able to confirm or negate these allegations.

I would agree with Steve that the MAC to save itself, needs new leadership. Perhaps it is not too late to put the MAC on track to achieve the goals outlined in the MAMTI proposal.

Peter Rubec

How can you be able to confirm or negate financial improper allegations? Are you an auditor? You wouldn't like somebody, without a name, to accuse you, or the organization you work for, of wrong doing. Right?

 

[dizzy]

{snip} {snip} Secondly, I commend those industry operators who stepped up and at least tried to make it work by going through certification process and working with MAC to MAKE THIS INDUSTRY BETTER. {snip} {snip}
cheers 8)

I see it much differently. I think those industry operators were foolish for buying into an obviously flawed system. They may have meant well, but their actions in no small way, helped to prevent much needed change from happening. Others realized their concerns were not being listened to and turned away, but this group demonstrated a blind faith that defies all logic. (Almost Moonie like) If those dealers would have resisted the temptation to jump on board, and instead demanded that MAC fix the thing first it could have saved years of frustration IMO.
Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

So Paul Holthus is irremovable? No matter what people find out, he can't be sent packing? I'm still confused on this issue...

Peace,

Chip

 

[mark@mac]

well,

as i said before, the saga continues...... now, MAC Certification Systems Director - Peter Scott has been framed by the same guys in phils that wanted me out of MAC-Manila.......


Mitch, as I've said before, MAC is an organization not unlike our US government..... We all enjoy the freedoms this nation provides us but that doesn't mean we agree with all the govs activities... I feel an org like MAC is much needed..... like IMA however, it may not survive... Most of us who did "buy in", most certainly have the best interests of this hobby/industry/oceans in mind.

What if we had one more chance to do it over? only do it right this time...