Fracas at PEIFA Dinner

It wasn’t what you’d call an old-fashioned donnybrook but Charlottetown police were called when things got a little rough at the social event that marred the annual general meeting of the PEI fishermen’s association (PEIFA) recently.  The AGM was held on February 26 and 27 at the Rodd Royalty Inns and Suites in Charlottetown. On Friday night, February 26, there was a lobster dinner banquet at which Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea was guest speaker. At approximately 12:30 a.m. police were called because a fight had broken out. Ms Shea was not in the room at the time.

Several people were involved, including Department of Fisheries and Oceans area director Bill Drost and Craig Avery, a PEIFA board member. It's not clear what the fuss was about. As someone put it; blame it on the full moon. One person who saw at least part of the incident, says that it seemed like one minute everyone was having a fun time and a couple of minutes later all hell broke loose. Except for a bloody nose, no one was injured.

Hotel staff called the Charlottetown police but by the time they arrived on the scene, the altercation was over. A police spokesman said alcohol was involved.

Neither PEIFA nor DFO officials are saying anything. PEIFA President Mike McGeoghegan says he doesn't want to say anything about it and DFO has issued a sanitized one-line e-mail response, saying only that: "Given the privacy issues involved, DFO is not able to comment on this matter at this time. DFO has a constructive relationship with the PEIFA and will continue to work closely with them in the future."

No charges have been laid. Police said the investigation is ongoing.