Rose Place fisherfolk ask to be relocated to Edinboro

Fisherfolk who will be affected by the US$145 million Port Modernization Project at Rose Place, Kingstown are asking that the government pay special attention to where they relocate them to.

Yesterday, outside the hard court at Rose Place, residents and fisherfolk of the Rose Place community were involved in the second round of public consultations for September. Three consultations will be held this month with the third one taking place today, Tuesday, September 24 upstairs the cruise ship and ferry terminal at 2 p.m.

Monday’s consultation heard from Resettlement and Social/Gender Safeguard Specialist Nancy Laatunen and Project Coordinator Lenski Douglas.

Rose Place fisherman Mark Dennie commented that of all the relocation sites being considered for the fishermen, Edinboro may be the best option. The other sites being proposed are Arnos Vale and Lowmans Bay.

He said that the St Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) base at Lowmans Bay may be a hindrance to them if they were to be placed there, while in an interview earlier this year, Dennie had noted that thieves plague the Arnos Vale area.

“But in putting fisherfolk in Edinboro, fisherfolk would like to have something done to properly protect the fishing boats not only for now, but for long term,” said Dennie.

He added that they would like sea defences to protect their boats during storms among other things needed to transition smoothly.

“Think seriously about making Edinboro the site for fisherfolk and knowing that you have plenty boats and knowing that the project should have an area for maintaining the boats and let it happen,” said Dennie.

Another fisherman who did not give his name said he hopes that Edinboro has enough space to accommodate all the fishing boats.

“In hurricane time we wondering if you have space where we could pull the boats closer to the land,” said the fisherman.

In response, Douglas said that currently Edinboro does not have the proper facilities, but the obvious approach is that whatever is provided for the fisherfolk, it must work.

He said the current set up in Rose Place works for the fishermen and based on previous consultations there are few things that have been identified, among them, protection for the vessels, fuelling, repair and other facilities.

Douglas said the team will be working with the fisherfolk to make sure they have all they need to continue their trade.

The Port Modernization Project is expected to displace about 200 residents of Rose Place. The government has already secured US$40 million from the British Government in partial funding for the project and construction is expected to begin during the second half of 2020.

Douglas said that the fisherfolk have been very helpful and the project team is aware of all of the concerns the fisherfolk have, and these concerns will be factored into their plans.

Also discussed was the relocation of residents and the compensation for housing and businesses.

Laatunen (Resettlement and Social/Gender Safeguard Specialist) said the valuation on the properties to be relocated has been completed but no one has come forward to claim some of the structures. She said that several of them have locks on them and they are hoping the owners come forward soon.

Laatunen also noted that to be paid, persons must give their correct names and contact numbers so she is encouraging persons who may not have done this to come forward.

It was also noted that there is a temporary hold on private development in the area.