‘We not soup drinkers’- EE fishermen
Some fishermen, as well as public activist Edmund G. Maduro, believe the location is not ideal and said the National Democratic Party (NDP) government should have listened to the suggestions of the fishermen.
20 years in the making
Eighth District Representative Honourable Marlon A. Penn told Virgin Islands News Online that the project has been on the books for well over 20 years and now has the prospects of creating huge economic activities for the fishermen of the community.
“Our district has been one of the great fishing districts and we still have a lot of fishermen who still do that for a living and I think it is going to bring huge economic activities for those fishermen in the community.”
According to Hon Penn, a facility of this nature is one that is needed for the fishermen. “It’s a great opportunity now for them to practice their craft more.”
Hon Penn noted that the current situation sees fishermen docking their boats at various points, which is not the ideal situation.
He said while some work has already started and moving apace, government is currently finalising the budget for the facility and as such he could not put a definite word as to the direct time the project is expected to be completed.
The present contractor working on the project is Mr Ashley Ritter.
According to Hon Penn, the project falls directly under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and upon completion it is highly likely to be placed under the management of the Conservation and Fisheries Department.
Media shunned
For several days this news site had sought basic information about the project but was consistently met with solid high walls. No one from the Conservation and Fisheries Department could have given any information as they said they had none and referred us to the Permanent Secretary of that Ministry, Mr Ronald Berkley-Smith, who could not be reached for days.
Several messages were left with Mr Berkley-Smith’s secretary and other persons in the department while calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Return calls were promised since Friday March 20, 2015 but, up to press time, there was none.
‘A project a little too late’- Fishermen
While opting not to be named, some fishermen within the East End community informed this news site that most of the more seasoned fishermen that once dominated the industry in the East End area have moved on. “We here were always the last resort. We got treated like little children and now they are doing this. It is good, yes, but it’s in my opinion a little too late,” said one fisherman.
‘We not soup drinkers’
Another said, “Timing of getting certain things done has a lot to say. Now with elections in the air everything is being thrown in we lap. We will use it, we will enjoy it but that does not say who we will give our votes to. We not soup drinkers, we know the game and we can play it too.”
One of the fishermen said he strongly feels having the facility in the currently location is not the best choice as there were suggestions for a better location. “The ideal place, fish and gas not a good combination, that’s all I got to say but thank you for doing it but we know what we know.”
‘Fishermen fear victimisation’
As it relates to the current location where the fishermen’s dock is being constructed, popular talk show host Mr Edmund G. Maduro agreed that it is not the best idea.
Mr Maduro said the situation has been one that he has been following for quite some time.
“I never thought what they were doing made common sense because that place is where the young fish and…use to come in there and they [government] destroyed a lot of mangrove to do what they are doing there. Up to this day they cannot understand the importance of mangroves and the fishing industry and in that area all the way down to Fat Hog’s Bay they destroyed a lot of mangroves,” said Mr Maduro.
The talk show host said he feels a facility being in the Paraquita Bay area, where a lagoon is currently, would have been the best location for such a facility. “To the extent that if there is a hurricane or anything they (fishermen’s boats) would have already been secured.”
Maduro, a former Chief Immigration Officer, said he feels fishermen are fearful of being victimised but labelled them as cowards.
“This government is killing small businesses,” he said as he added, “I’ve been trying to organise a fisherman’s co-op with them (fishermen) and I am getting more trouble than if I was trying to killing one of them. A lot of ignorance is going on in this little country.”
Background to dock
Back in 2011 Hon Penn had outlined plans to tap into the 80 billion-dollar global fishing industry when he had proposed that the 8th District be the catapult for the fishing industry by transforming Red Bay Fisherman’s Dock into a modern fishing facility.
Back then, while stating that the NDP had a four-point strategy to developing the industry, Hon Penn said his party would have begun developing Red Bay “into a modern facility for our fishermen, a facility that would serve as a one stop shop for all the fishing needs, equipped with a processing centre and a fishing outlet to purchase fish,” Hon Penn had stated.
9 Responses to “‘We not soup drinkers’- EE fishermen”
Doesn't matter if it's just for elections though.