by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service
Matthew Walter, Hon. Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
shakes hands as he hands over a boat
to a fisherman
Fishermen who lost fishing vessels during the passage of Hurricane Omar in October of 2008 will soon be able to return to the sea. This was made possible on Friday 27th March, 2009 at the Fisheries Complex on the Dame Eugenia Boulevard where nine (9) fishermen were presented with brand new boats compliments the Government of Dominica.
The vessels were imported from Columbia and were distributed to fishermen from Portsmouth, Colihaut, Pottersville, Fond Colé and Mahaut. Mr. Andrew Magloire, Chief Fisheries Officer explained the type of boats given to the fishermen.
“There are fiberglass boats designed in such a manner so as to be very economical in terms of the consumption of fuel and are very sea worthy which will alleviate some of our fears as far as safety at sea is concerned.”
Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Matthew Walter, said that Government has spent considerable amounts of money assisting the farmers to get back on their feet.
New boats presented to fishers
“The Government signed approximately twenty-seven (27) contracts with boat builders to build eighty (80) boats and to repair fifty-three (53) boats at a total cost of EC eight hundred and fifty-two thousand, three hundred and five dollars (XCD$852,305.00). To date, over sixty-five (65) boats have been delivered to the fishermen of the west coast to enable them to resume their fishing operations. Eighteen (18) fiberglass boats have been purchased from Columbia to supplement the fishing fleet at a cost of US one hundred and forty-five thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six dollars (USD$145,756.00) or EC three hundred and eighty-nine thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight dollars (XCD$389,168.00). Twelve (12) of these boats have arrived on the island and six (6) are being shipped to Dominica.
Recently, the Ministry held a press conference to hand over sixty-one (61) engines to fishers and several more will be provided to fishers as soon as they arrive on the island. The Government has also provided fish pot wire to one hundred and ten (110) fishers in addition to fishing tackle, life jackets and other equipment in order to provide them with all the necessary tools to re-establish their business.”
The fishermen were delighted that Government came to their plight after the passage of Hurricane Omar and pledged that they would do all in their power to take care of the boats that they received. |
