TGTS shutting down client hunting???

24 October 2017, 08:15

AilsaWheels

I presume this article is saying that hunters who are booked from now to the end of the year just got screwed, along with the outfitters and all who rely on the hunting industry for a livelihood.

If the article is true, this has to be the fifth or sixth thing Tanzania has done during or right before the season in the last 12 years. TIA!

24 October 2017, 08:55

Saeed

quote:
Originally posted by AilsaWheels:
I presume this article is saying that hunters who are booked from now to the end of the year just got screwed, along with the outfitters and all who rely on the hunting industry for a livelihood.

If the article is true, this has to be the fifth or sixth thing Tanzania has done during or right before the season in the last 12 years. TIA!

I am not sure this is what the article says.

Hunting season for 2017 is almost over - actually over for most outfitters in the Selous anyway.

I think it refers to concession holders who have been given permits in 2017 need to re apply by an auction.

Whatever it is, it does not sound very good.

That is Africa for you!

24 October 2017, 12:44

StormsGSP

The exact meaning and implications of the announcement are still very unclear. This was done by a newly appointed minister who has, from what I have read, dramatically overstepped his powers (See below). The announcement came as a total surprise to the industry and other government bodies. Hopefully we see clarification in the next few days.

Section 38(12) of the Act read together with Regulation 17(1) of the Regulations allows the Minister for Tourism to cancel the allocation of a hunting block before the expiration of the period term.

However, such powers cannot be exercised unless the following happens:

(a) The person to whom the hunting block was allocated has failed to satisfy any or a combination of matters required by the Minister;

(b) Has given false or incorrect information on the application for a hunting block;

(c) Has been convicted of an offence under the Act;

(d) Has failed to pay the necessary fees or any other debt due to him in relation to his hunting block; and

(e) Has sublet a hunting block allocated to him without the consent of the Minister.

Further, the Minister cannot cancel the hunting block permit without ensuring that the person concerned has been given an opportunity to be heard (see section 38(13) of the Act).In fact Regulation 17(2) (b) of the Regulations stipulates clearly that the Minister shall ensure that a person so concerned is granted a right or an opportunity to be heard in relation to his conduct of the hunting activities.

24 October 2017, 18:50

AilsaWheels

Thanks for the clarification. I completely misread the news clipping.

24 October 2017, 19:21

Greg Brownlee

quote:
Originally posted by cow-trader:
I have heard through the grapevine that TGTS has suspended its hunting operation and is no longer booking hunting clients. Is this true or has anyone else heard this?

While everything in the link posted by Anton is true, you've heard correctly. A reliable source told me that even if they get the blocks for the next 5 years, TGTS will no longer be accepting hunting clients. It will just be for the Friedkin family from here on out.

25 October 2017, 05:11

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by Greg Brownlee:
quote:
Originally posted by cow-trader:
I have heard through the grapevine that TGTS has suspended its hunting operation and is no longer booking hunting clients. Is this true or has anyone else heard this?

While everything in the link posted by Anton is true, you've heard correctly. A reliable source told me that even if they get the blocks for the next 5 years, TGTS will no longer be accepting hunting clients. It will just be for the Friedkin family from here on out.

Interesting...Thomas Friedkin died in March. Very impressive guy.

25 October 2017, 05:58

jdollar

Damn, i wish i had my own private hunting block in Tz. where is winning lottery ticket when you need it??

26 October 2017, 01:01

cow-trader

quote:
Originally posted by StormsGSP:
The exact meaning and implications of the announcement are still very unclear. This was done by a newly appointed minister who has, from what I have read, dramatically overstepped his powers (See below). The announcement came as a total surprise to the industry and other government bodies. Hopefully we see clarification in the next few days.

Section 38(12) of the Act read together with Regulation 17(1) of the Regulations allows the Minister for Tourism to cancel the allocation of a hunting block before the expiration of the period term.

However, such powers cannot be exercised unless the following happens:

(a) The person to whom the hunting block was allocated has failed to satisfy any or a combination of matters required by the Minister;

(b) Has given false or incorrect information on the application for a hunting block;

(c) Has been convicted of an offence under the Act;

(d) Has failed to pay the necessary fees or any other debt due to him in relation to his hunting block; and

(e) Has sublet a hunting block allocated to him without the consent of the Minister.

Further, the Minister cannot cancel the hunting block permit without ensuring that the person concerned has been given an opportunity to be heard (see section 38(13) of the Act).In fact Regulation 17(2) (b) of the Regulations stipulates clearly that the Minister shall ensure that a person so concerned is granted a right or an opportunity to be heard in relation to his conduct of the hunting activities.

The Tanzanian Government just ignored the law and their legal agreements with the Acacia Gold Mine, so no reason to think this is any different.

26 October 2017, 01:02

cow-trader

quote:
Originally posted by Greg Brownlee:
quote:
Originally posted by cow-trader:
I have heard through the grapevine that TGTS has suspended its hunting operation and is no longer booking hunting clients. Is this true or has anyone else heard this?

While everything in the link posted by Anton is true, you've heard correctly. A reliable source told me that even if they get the blocks for the next 5 years, TGTS will no longer be accepting hunting clients. It will just be for the Friedkin family from here on out.

Just as I was told.

26 October 2017, 01:59

Bwana1

Interesting...Thomas Friedkin died in March. Very impressive guy.Quote.

Might have something to do with estate settlement.

26 October 2017, 01:59

Dahav

Certainly understand the Friedkin family reserving the hunting for themselves. I'd guess that the difference between the money they loose each year and keeping hunting for themselves isn't a big number- at least for them anyway! Kudos to the Friedkins for their commitment to conservation in Tanzania. To my knowledge, they have always managed their areas very well.

26 October 2017, 02:21

BaxterB

So for those of us just following long, the Friedkin family owns TGTS and leases x number of blocks on a 5-year lease. They can (if they want) allow hunting, but they've just chosen to lease the blocks for their own use?

26 October 2017, 02:53

cow-trader

quote:
Originally posted by Bwana1:
Interesting...Thomas Friedkin died in March. Very impressive guy.Quote.

Might have something to do with estate settlement.

Tom Friedkin had to nothing to do with TGTS. TGTS is owned by Dan Friedkin who is alive and well. Tom had been uninvolved for quite a while.

26 October 2017, 02:55

cow-trader

quote:
Originally posted by Dahav:
To my knowledge, they have always managed their areas very well.

True that.

26 October 2017, 05:08

Dahav

I believe circa 1988 that Tom Friedkin originally purchased TGT from Robin Hurt and Hurt continued to manage it. At the time, Friedkin also owned Safari South in Botswana.

When Mr. Friedkin and Mr. Hurt fell out (1990?), Hurt then started his own company (RHS) and Friedkin hired PHs and retained the TGTS areas and name.

I certainly could be wrong about all this as my memory is a bit shaky these days!

26 October 2017, 05:21

Dahav

quote:
Originally posted by BaxterB:
So for those of us just following long, the Friedkin family owns TGTS and leases x number of blocks on a 5-year lease. They can (if they want) allow hunting, but they've just chosen to lease the blocks for their own use?

Yes, that looks like the case.

As long as TGT pay the yearly block fees and pay 40% of their area quotas, they should be ok and would be operating correctly under TZ laws.

Well, at least operating under the old laws that is until the new director arrived on the scene...

I do believe that TGT had arranged for a longer term lease on one or more of their blocks due to the amount of $$$ they have contributed to community development, so not sure how the recent action by the director effects the status of that agreement.

26 October 2017, 06:24

BaxterB

quote:
Originally posted by Dahav:
quote:
Originally posted by BaxterB:
So for those of us just following long, the Friedkin family owns TGTS and leases x number of blocks on a 5-year lease. They can (if they want) allow hunting, but they've just chosen to lease the blocks for their own use?

Yes, that looks like the case.

As long as TGT pays the yearly block fees and pay 40% of their area quotas, they should be ok and would be operating correctly under TZ laws.

Well, at least operating under the old laws that is until the new director arrived on the scene...

I do believe that TGT had arranged for a longer term lease on one or more of their blocks due to the amount of $$$ they have contributed to community development, so not sure how the recent action by the director effects the status of that agreement.

Very interesting.

26 October 2017, 21:14

cow-trader

quote:
Originally posted by Dahav:
I believe circa 1988 that Tom Friedkin originally purchased TGT from Robin Hurt and Hurt continued to manage it. At the time, Friedkin also owned Safari South in Botswana.

When Mr. Friedkin and Mr. Hurt fell out (1990?), Hurt then started his own company (RHS) and Friedkin hired PHs and retained the TGTS areas and name.

I certainly could be wrong about all this as my memory is a bit shaky these days!

True...but Tom has been out of the management for years...maybe a decade now. Dan Friedkin runs TGTS and has for a long time. Tom's death plays no role in this.

08 April 2018, 09:08

10generation

Is TGTS done offering hunting to third parties (non-family)?

09 April 2018, 09:51

Michael Robinson

Nothing good lasts forever, or even very long. Especially when government, and in particular any Tanzanian government, is involved.

And anything money can save, money can ruin. See above re: government, and Tanzanian governments, in particular.

Not to mention the USFWS.

Sorry for the aphorisms, but they are economical, and I am very sick and tired of this steady downfall of what I have known and loved.

10 April 2018, 06:37

Atkinson

Some things never change, welcome to Africa a third world country plus 10..Africa in time will be owned an controlled lock stock and barrel by a black tribal government, and become a truly "mordida' state of mind. Tanzania has sitting and watching Zimbabwe and others for longer than I thought they would. It,s destiny is easy to read and written in the stars. My witch doctor told me so...