Fisherman’s Day – Reflections

Another Fisherman’s Day was celebrated here last week ending with the traditional prize-giving ceremony and rally at the Calliaqua Playing Field, adjacent to one of the most important fishing localities. Impressively, the 2024 activities marked 47 years since the first-ever such official designation of the Day in 1977, quite a feat.

The initiative to institute Fisherman’s Day as an annual event is a most important one in our historical development. Whatever its operational and institutional shortcomings, it represents a national recognition of the importance of the fishing industry and, what we today call the Blue Economy, to the progress and development of our country, and, within it, the fishing community.

For years this sub-sector has had to take a subordinate place to its “food twin”, agriculture, itself neglected despite its vital contribution to St Vincent and the Grenadines over centuries. It was a victim of the old “centre and periphery” theory, under which rural areas, and in the case of fishing, communities in the Grenadines and the Leeward coast, were much neglected in human developmental terms, despite their valuable contribution to economic development.

In view of the expressed intention of Prime Minister Gonsalves, to do some reassessment of Cabinet responsibilities, it may not be a bad idea at all to widen his perspective and give some thought and action to easing the burden on the Ministry of Agriculture. This ministry not only has an important portfolio like Agriculture, but Fishing, as well as Industry, Rural transformation and Labour to boot. Overburdening can lead to neglect, and all can suffer as a result.

But back to Fisherman’s Day, or more appropriately Fisherfolk Day as it ought to be called. It was gratifying to see that despite the ongoing problems between government and fisherfolk, the activities could be held. It emphasizes the commitment of fisherfolk to this Day and we can only urge greater dialogue and cooperation between both parties to have differences resolved and challenges addressed. Our commitment to the development of the Blue Economy must be manifested in our practical regard for human development in that sector.

As we have mentioned, agriculture and the fishing industry are two of our most important economic sectors. Fisherfolk Day is one important recognition of this. It demonstrates the commitment on the part of both government and those in the industry to development in this sector. Already the importance of workers as the bedrock of any society is manifested in the international recognition of Workers’ Day on May 1. There have been efforts by farmers’ organizations to press for recognition of a Farmers’ Day, but these have not won the support of either successive governments nor full commitment by farmers themselves. If agriculture is so important, why not a Day to honour our food producers, not just tucked on to the Food and

Agriculture’s World Food Day? We probably can start with the re-introduction of the Agricultural Exhibition not held for an interminably long time.

Our farmers deserve that special recognition as well.