The fishing industry is getting a boost in the Soufriere Constituency.
A Fishers Programme for Soufriere, Scott’s Head and Galleon will soon come on stream.
Hon. Parliamentary Representative for the Soufriere Constituency, Ian Pinard made the announcement at Wednesday’s village council meeting.
“We are going to see the construction of up to ten 20-ft fiberglass boats,” he announced.
According to the Minister, these boats will be equipped with iceboxes and outboard motors.
“The criteria are that fishermen must be between the ages of 18 and 45. They must be serious registered fishermen from the Soufriere Constituency,” he said.
He added that the selected fishers will sign three-year contracts and pay $350 monthly of which $250 will go towards a revolving fund and the balance towards the boat’s insurance policy.
Application forms are available at DLP Constituency Offices in Pointe Michel and Soufriere.
The programme will cost Government some $250,000.
Construction of the boats will begin this month.
In the 1950’s there was no road from Roseau to Soufriere, a boat was required to travel up the coast. Small fishing boats and schooners were used. Schooners were also used for a lot of the travel between islands.
Good move Ian,
With these larger boats which are much more difficult to pull ashore daily we need to look at additional faciities to service them with a higher degree of convenience.
Is it not time to look at a nice little dock tucked in the north of the bay, enjoying some weather protection from the reef rocks just offshore of the village.
Integrated move to protect the investment of your move.
Interesting project. What are the fishermen going to do with the catch the get every day? Due to the expensive and. scarse availability of electricity and lack of processing facilities I see problem there. Constuction of the geothermal power plant with abundant electricity would ease the operation of a freezing plant to facilitate the processing of increased fishing. The domestic market is probably not going to take increased supply of fresh fish.