Please, be patient

Fisherfolk engaged in a heated protest demonstration yesterday morning to protest the relocation of the Customs and Excise department to an area which previously housed the San Fernando Abattoir and is adjacent to the Fish Market and which is at present being used as a berthing area for fishing vessels.

Interviewed yesterday, San Fernando Fishing Cooperative Society limited chairman Salim Gool said fishing has been taking place at that particular location since the 1800s and it would be unfair for them to be relocated without the requisite consultations.

“We understand that the waterfront project will start in November so we went to his (Regrello) office and he said fishing is not a stakeholder in the development — which means we are not supposed to be there or something like that so the people began to protest,” Gool said.

Gool said the Fish Market, which had been built in 1924, was almost one hundred years old while the nearby fishing facility had been constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries for them to repair their boats.

“They have not earmarked anything for us,” Gool said, adding protest action would heat up if their concerns were not be addressed.

However, Regrello said both Customs and fisherfolk were integral parts of the San Fernando economy as one dealt with surveillance and the other provided food for the nation.

“Customs is currently housed in a container on the northern side of the wharf and they have a critical role to play in the port — it is a port of entry (San Fernando) and Customs are required for the examination of vessels and cargo and commodities and we have identified a space for them,” Regrello said.

“However the fisherfolk claim that space is where their vessels are berthed, that was brought to my attention after the fact, after we had identified a space for Customs, however I could offer them the opposite area, the same space but they said the opposite area needs to dredged and my enquiries so far is that could be a costly exercise, needs specialised equipment so I need some time to look at it,” he said.

“But in the interim, the Customs not there as yet so they could continue using there until we are ready which would allow me to buy some time to source the right person at the right price to get it down"