TT/Barbados fishing dispute takes new turn

There has been a new twist in the fishing dispute between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago over fishing rights. Yesterday, the Barbados Government threatened to do the following:

(a)  Impose a 100 percent duty on all Trinidad and Tobago exports to Barbados;
(b) Seize all TT vessels entering Barbados waters;
(c)  Have the Barbadian Coast Guard  accompany all Barbados vessels fishing near TT waters.
 
This means that Barbados will resist by force any attempt to seize their vessels that are perceived by TT authorities to be entering TT waters. Barbados’ action was precipitated by the arrest of two Barbados fishing vessels over the weekend. But the action is also the culmination of the failure by both sides to resolve the long standing fishing problem.  It also comes in the wake of contradictory statements by both Prime Ministers Patrick Manning and Owen Arthur on efforts to solve the dispute. Sources said there have been several meetings to resolve the issue over the weekend and yesterday. Foreign Affairs Minister Knowlson Gift could not be reached yesterday for comment.