Residents of St. Mary’s Bay are anxiously awaiting a decision on a license for the local fish plant.

The plant was blocked solid yesterday as residents gathered for a rally demanding that the province approve the license.

Now, it’s a waiting game until a decision comes from Minister Derrick Bragg. However, if a decision isn’t received in the next few days then on Monday the protestors will move to confederation building.

St. Mary’s mayor Stephen Ryan says the owner of the plant hopes to create between 150 and 200 jobs, which he says would equate to every unemployed person in the area having a job.

Ryan’s message to government is straight-forward. they want a license and they want jobs in the region.

While the decision lies with the minister, area MHA Sherry-Gambin says she is 100 per cent behind the people in the area.

As she understands it, Derrick Bragg has received the recommendations and he is looking for additional information. She says the best she can do right now is to ask the minister every day for an update.

Another demonstration is planned for this afternoon, but this time it is plant workers who do not want government to issue any more crab processing licences.

The management and workers at the Independent Fish Harversters Inc plant in Brigus say issuing a new licence will take away from work at their plant.

The Brigus operation employs some 80 people on a seasonal basis. General Manager Graham Hiscock says issuing another licence will only take resources away from other plants.

“We’re all drawing from the same resource” says Hiscock, “it’s not like he’s generating new crab to be processed in his plant that’s not already being harvested…he’s basically going to take supply from other plants, to put into his plant.”

Today’s demonstration will take place outside the plant in Brigus at 3:15 p.m.