Government addressing concerns of fisherfolk relocated to Lowmans Bay

Improved security, street lights, water and better road conditions are in the process of being provided to the displaced Rose Place fishermen who are establishing themselves at Lowmans Bay prime minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has indicated.

Multiple fisherfolk who have been relocated to Lowmans Bay to make way for the project to build a modern cargo port in Rose Place told SEARCHLIGHT last week that they were having difficulties setting up structures to store their gear at their new location. They highlighted the absence of water, light, a bathroom and a decent road.

When asked about their concerns at a press conference on August 16, the prime minister, responding briefly, said that he would attend to the issues.

This week he elaborated on the situation during his appearance on NBC radio’s Face to Face programme on Wednesday, August 24.

It is said that of the 35 registered fishing vessels from Rose Place: three have moved to Calliaqua; five to Clare Valley; one to Edinboro; one to Great Head Bay; 17 to Lowmans Bay; six to Questelles Bay, and two to Roucher Bay.

“We had approved at Cabinet the allocation of a parcel of land owned by the Government at Lowmans Bay for relocating the fisherfolk to construct their boat storage units,” Gonsalves said.

“Lenski Douglas of the port project worked in consultation with the Lands and Surveys department to make sure that there’s no encroachment on the existing road and the boundaries for the Petro Caribe.”

Consequently, 5000 sq ft of crown land was excavated and cleared.

“…And the survey was done on that parcel of land to mark 10×10 spots with adequate access for the carts between the lots,” he added.

Gonsalves said that in collaboration with the president of the National Fisherfolk Organization, Winsbert Harry, 32 lots were assigned.

When Harry spoke with SEARCHLIGHT on August 15, the fisherman had pointed out an unfinished building in Lowmans Bay that they wanted the authorities to complete for use as a general building containing offices for the Organization, bathrooms, tackle shops etc.

The prime minister explained on Wednesday that there is an unfinished building at Lowmans Bay that they want to acquire, and that the acting project manager is in contact with the person who built it.

It will be for “the development of an administrative center to provide service for the fishing community,” he said, and reiterated that negotiations are ongoing.

Gonsalves pointed out that they have been working with the National Fisherfolk Organization, and Douglas held a consultation with the Organisation’s president at the end of the first week in August on areas of support such as “security, lighting, sanitation, the road condition, the water supply and the future role of the National Fisherfolk Organization in Lowmans Bay regarding the administration over there.”

Additionally, last week there was a clearing of the new path of the roadway to access Lowmans Bay “as staked out on the survey plan and in preparation for the placement of quarry material as a temporary improvement to the road surface.”

Further, “A letter has been sent to CWSA (the Central Water and Sewerage Authority) in respect of installing portable water so they’re addressing that, doing the same thing with VINLEC (St Vincent Electricity Services Ltd) for the installation of at least two street lights on the Bay to serve as security lighting.”

Additionally, one of the persons affected by the project will also be employed as a security officer for the area.

The prime minister said that they will follow through on the issues and work “with the Fisheries Department and the National Fisherfolk Organization to develop a transitional plan, particularly in respect of the ownership and the management of the building to be used for the general administration.”

He reiterated that the fishermen are working on temporary structures, and reminded that before minister of Seaports, Julian Francis fell ill, “he said that it is his intention to work with Lenski Douglas for us to put better facilities beyond the temporary.”

What is there currently will be makeshift so that the fishermen may earn their living in the interim, Gonsalves said.

He concluded “we are on top of it and we have good people working on it. And I told Lenski that all what was agreed before with Julian to simply implement.”

The Port Modernization Project will see the construction of a $600 million port with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank, the British Government and the Export Import Bank of Taiwan. The authorities say that there were 35 registered and established fishing vessel owners who were compensated in a total and aggregate cost of $708,000, while there were 25 persons who owned boats which fell in the category of unregistered motor boats or row boats, or abandoned boats, or boats on the repair who were compensated at an aggregate cost of $57,000. This was apparently completed by August 17.