Spanish Wells: ...local fishermen urged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to get tough on poachers from the Dominican Republic before they are forced to take matters into their own hands

Fishermen urge PM to get tough on poachers

tribune242


DURING a town meeting in Spanish Wells, local fishermen urged Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to get tough on poachers from the Dominican Republic before they are forced to take matters into their own hands.

With the Commodore of the Defence Force Roderick Bowe, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, and the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources in tow, Mr Ingraham told the fishermen he knows how important the fishing industry is to the Bahamas and to the fishermen of Spanish Wells.

Mr Ingraham noted that the Bahamas is spread over 100,000 square miles and law enforcement would like to be "everywhere" at the same time, but this is an impossibility. However, he did add that since coming to office, his government has strengthened the Defence Force with two new airfcraft, additional watercrafts, personnel, and will soon be completing a base in Ragged Island.

When the floor was opened to the fishermen, many recounted their own personal accounts of running into Dominican poachers while on the high seas.

Many put forward the motion that the government either increased the fines issued by the courts to these unscrupulous poachers, or confiscate the vessels and sink them.

Another issue raised was the prevalence of Dominican fishermen on Bahamian vessels - an issue Mr Ingraham said was "very troubling" for the government.

"It's complicated, because we are unable to tell Bahamian women who to marry. We are unable to do that. Secondly, Bahamian owned boats come along and say I need an engineer. We know that they are fooling us; we know that.

"The Deputy PM is here, he is the Minister of Immigration. I have asked them for a list of all the permits for all foreigners on all boats in the Bahamas which he has now sent me, and I will send them something back very soon on that issue. We expect to reduce substantially the number of foreigners who have any kind of permits on these boats - but that ain't ga stop them from getting these 'quickie marriages' now.

"But for the actual work permits, to work on these boats or the compressors they use to get all these conchs will be reduced substantially," he said.

Mr Ingraham also added that a number of "big" fishing companies that have these vessels which employ these Dominican fishermen will soon start "squealing" not long from now.

While the Prime Minister admitted that there is very little he could do to stop persons from stealing crawfish out of other fishermen's traps, he did foreshadow that the government will be looking at doing something about the "large quantity of crawfish" that is produced on the same day that the crawfish season is opened.

Mr Ingraham commended the fishermen of Spanish Wells for being law abiding, admitting he knew of persons who were out catching crawfish a week before the season was even slated to open.

"We mean you well - no matter what anyone else will tell you, we mean you well," Mr Ingraham said.

"We do have your interests at heart. We would like to do the best that is possible to make it safe for you to ensure that you are able to reap that which is in our waters and to reduce the number of times that others, who have no right to do so, are able to do so in the Bahamas.

"I want to thank you very much for coming, I don't want to make you any promise, other than what I have said. You have to make your own judgment as to what happens in the future as to whether you think you have an affect on us in the government or not. All I assure you is, I heard you, I am not deaf, I have big ears, I understand," he said.

August 04, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International