Boat owners and fishers have launched a new committee to push back against what they describe as years of neglect, disrespect and broken promises in the island’s fishing industry.
More than 20 people gathered at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex on Tuesday to discuss the way forward. The new committee they formed is expected to convene shortly to elect an executive.
There was no immediate reaction to the development by the long-time national umbrella for fishers, the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO).
Spokesman Moonesh Dharampaul said the time had come for the industry to hold officials accountable.
He said: “Even if BARNUFO is handling their issues, they have specific issues that the boat owners have to go through, especially in this market. They’re expressing that there is no continued development. For example, the ice machine, which is right now operating at lower capacity, which is like one and a half boats a day, and they will [look at that].”
He added, “The whole idea of the group is to be able to have procedural correctness. There’s a lack of respect as it relates to the fishermen.”
Another spokesman, Wade Gittens, said disrespect was at the heart of the problem: “Because fishermen are considered to be uneducated. They’re not represented in their skills. So they believe that their skill set does not transfer over to other things, and that’s a major problem. Like right now, they’re putting the fishermen on the back burner. And without the fishermen, the industry can’t run.
“So I would like to see them come and respect the fishermen for the job they’ve got. I find that they [show no respect] for our fishermen… [they are treated] at a lower standard. I’ve been fishing for over 36 years. I would like to see more things happening in the industry for our betterment.”
The speakers said the time had come for a united front. “So it’s about time that the fishermen and the boat owners come together and make a stand,” Gittens said. “I want fisherfolk to realise what is happening, open up their eyes and see what’s really going on because it’s like a cut-throat world.”
The committee plans to begin outreach across fishing villages to broaden its base, in a bid to force policymakers to take the industry’s grievances seriously.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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