China trip will not include council rep

An economic exploratory trip to Weihai, China led by the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority will not include official representation from the Terrebonne Parish Council. In a 5-4 split last Wednesday, council members voted not to participate in a June 15-22 foreign trade feasibility journey that could establish an economic sister city relationship with industry members of Weihai.

With no discussion on the matter, during the regular parish council meeting, council members Beryl Amedee, Danny Babin, Dirk Guidry and Russell “Red” Hornsby and Pete Lambert defeated a motion that would have sent Councilwoman Christa Duplantis with the delegation.

Those voting with Duplantis in favor of having a council member on the trip included council members Greg Hood, John Navy and Arlanda Williams.

“This is the first time they have ever voted for no representation from the parish council,” Duplantis said. “I’m not upset, but I am disappointed because it would have been a great opportunity.”

Duplantis said she intends to raise financial backing and join the delegation even without council support. It is not clear if she secures available state funds or other resources to finance the trip, if Duplantis would be able to travel as a member of the council or simply as an involved citizen.

“I’ve heard so much about this trip and how important it is for our parish to have a government official [as part of the delegation],” Duplantis said. “I’m not giving up on going.”

“I did a poll of my constituents and I did not get one positive response about going on the China trip,” Councilman Russell “Red” Hornsby said. “We are asking everyone else in the parish to cut back. So, I think we should be good stewards of parish money. We already have people going from the parish.”

Hornsby, along with others that rejected council participation, said he was not opposed to developing an economic relationship with other nations. He would like to see Terrebonne Parish enter the expedition with a stronger footing.

“I think China should have come to us first,” Hornsby said. “The next time we do one of these things, and I understand we may be trying one with Mexico, I hope Mexico comes to Houma first.”

“I can understand their concerns since this is a first meeting of this kind,” TEDA CEO Steve Vassallo said. “I am disappointed that we don’t have an elected official going.”

In response to Hornsby’s suggestion that Terrebonne Parish be first to receive visitors from other nations, Vassallo said the councilman had a valid point.

“We had requested that, but travel schedules worked out the way they did because an international food expo is taking place in Weihai and they wanted us to come to that,” Vassallo said.

The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government will not be completely without representation as TPCG Planning and Zoning Director Patrick Gordon will be part of the delegation.

“I think the council rejected participation because of some confusion on why we are going,” Duplantis said.

The trip to Weihai, China originated with an effort by TEDA to develop international trade relations with other nations in economic sister city arrangements.

The parish’s economic development agency has already received a positive reaction from its planned visited to China and a yet to be scheduled visit from a Weihai delegation.

In correspondence to TEDA, Weihai-based New Beiyang Digital Technology expressed interest in opening a printer manufacturing plant in Terrebonne Parish. “So, you can see what kind of response we generate for them if we have not even met with them yet and they want to open a plant and offer jobs here,” Vassallo said.

Much of the opposition regarding trade with China is specifically regarding in past experiences when that nation flooded the U.S. market with cut-price shrimp, harming Gulf shrimpers. Both Councilmen Babin and Guidry are involved in the shrimp industry. Each has said he supports international trade arrangements, but is primarily concerned about any impact it might have on the industry many of their constituents represent.