Agriculture Minister Johnson Drigo has revealed that there is a market available for the export of fish and that young people on the island are being trained to be more equipped to take advantage of that market.
He made that statement while addressing a press conference organized by the Dominica Youth Business Trust (DYBT) on Wednesday.
According to Drigo, the main aim of the training is to find more creative ways of creating employment for young people, since some businesses available in Dominica “cannot expand.”
“For this year we have seen cash value of well over $380,000 for the export of fish, I am not talking about local fish consumption of which we are meeting at least 90 percent of our fish locally, so there is a market for the export of fish and the intention is to train people, equip them properly, send them out and get them not only for the local market but for the export market,” he said.
He stated that fishing complexes on the island are being retrofited with new freezing equipment by the Japanese to broaden capacity.
“Therefore in everything we do, both in agriculture and fishing, we have to look at export as a means of bringing in foreign exchange into the country,” he stated.
Drigo noted that Ministry of Agriculture is very pleased to be collaborating with the Dominica Youth Business Trust (DYBT) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in training young people in the fisheries sector.
He revealed that so far over 70 individuals in Fond St Jean, San Sauveur and Layou have been trained in Outboard Motor Engine Repair.
“The training cost in excess of $EC110, 000 and it is already having positive impact on the trainees from the various communities,” he noted. “An additional big initiative will soon take place in Layou where there are plans to construct a number of fibre glass boats and establish an Outboard Engine Repair Shop.”
He said the government is currently reviewing a proposal to facilitate this development.
Drigo mentioned further that the Fisheries Division and Youth Division are excited to be part of the boat making programme in Castle Bruce.
“We are now doing an outboard motor training programme…,” he noted. “We intend to do the basic training fishing course for all of the participants who are part of the programme.”
Drigo indicated that the hope is to ensure that all the participants’ boats have an outboard motor in order to send out professional fishermen.
Yes, we all know that there is an export market for fish but can our Fishermen tap in that export market fishing the way they do using these small boats.To tap into the export market they need commercial fishing boat, lets be realistic, our fishing industry is still operating on some form of subsistence fishing. There needs to be a review of the industry by The Government and The Fishermen as to what is needed to establish a viable fishing industry geared towards an export market..
Gary, I say no. Because before we know it govt. will grant concessions to a foreign operator that will suck away all the fish from our subsistence fishermen. How are they going to live then? Join NEP I suppose.
I gave you the wrong response in you response to me below, so now I demand that you tell me to where Trinidad and Guyana export fish, what kind and under what name or brand, and where can I buy some.
We know the salt cod fish imported to Dominica comes under the name “Newfoundland Salt Cod Fish”, at lease that the brand I saw when I was a kid, so be distinguish!
Where do you and Drigo have this amount of fish hidden in Dominica waters to tap into and export when there are people in Dominica yearning for fish Gary?
If you are sure that what I said is nonsense answer my question and make a fool out of me, humiliate me, by simply stating to where Trinidad & Guyana export fish to, and what kind! You are always babbling, but have no source to back you up. You are nothing but a fraud!
You made a statement last week identifying Skerrit’s lack of intelligence, and when I decided to give you thumbs up for the truth you told, you hurriedly said that’s not what you meant!
A…
I’m sorry, I live out of state so please enlighten me. To what countries do we export fish, what fish do we export and how much income did it generate?
Way papa, I wonder Whether the Minister wanted to say fig and his thought slipped and say fish. Dominica not easy. Go walk through the banana plantations. Mr. Walter did it well but make sure you walk Marigot fields. You will see what is happening to our bananas.
Not until the price of fish comes down in Dominica that you can claim successes, even to export. I was recently quoted $12 for a pound of fish in the Roseau market. Think and come again.
Parle en bouch
Fish + green fig = broth
Sacray sot
The only reason Drigo is Minister of Agriculture is that he never disagrees with Skerrit and nobody else in the cabinet wants that job.
DRIGO = DUNCE
Mr. Drigo,
I am still awaiting to know on what basis did you come to conclusion that there is a market for fish from Dominica and where is that market. You went further to say that we are 90% self-sufficient in fish. Then my question is: What is the monetary value of imported fish to Dominica? I hope you read and inform yourself before you just jump out there and spew a whole set of garbage as you all always do!
Public Servant
Drigo, wake up and go get some fresh sea breeze down at Wind Blow (for those who doh know, it is in Castle Bruce), where Castle Bruce produce fish like mad in abundance. Since this corrupt Labour Party came in there is no more fishing in this area. Lately under failed and rejected Lorraine Bannis they started this much talked about irrigation programme, that too has failed because these lazy Skerities MP`s appears dunce and only following this clown PM rather than opening their eyes to think for themselves.
The East, where Castle Bruce is located is known for the wise men, Drigo has diminished his intelligence because he is in the wrong camp, a corrupt and polluted one with a questionable inept irresponsible leader.
Continued,:
Drigo, Castle Bruce produce fish like mad, whatever happen to it. There were about four agricultural Co-operatives in the Castle Bruce area, where are they? You see Drigo, central government operates and dictates everything pertaining to agriculture from the 5th floor. That is a conflict of interest and a bobol. That is why poverty is high in the East. Castle Bruce once a thriving village is now a dead mans paradise.
There are no fishermen like before producing fish out of Wind Blow, where people gathered 5pm to buy fish. All gone, the industry has been compromised with Red Clinic handouts managed by Skerrit.
The culture is also dead, the cemetery is dead, the village is dead and there is no immediate hope.
You may try your best but under Skerrit, you and your village and agriculture all dead. This is abuse
So why we are importing so much fish then? Cod fish, sauced herring and mackrell, tinned tuna, salmon, sardines and all that. So much tinned fish we importing! One merchant even importing frozen fish from Jamaica I believe. Why is that if we have fish to spare for export? Tell me that please. Unless you go to a fishing village direct you can hardly find any fresh fish in Dominica, even so is not every day and I’m not buying that stuff from the fish market I don’t know may have been re-frozen a couple of times. Does Dominica have one fishmonger shop or even a butcher shop for fresh meat? Go on build your fishery when you can not even afford to maintain the ones you already have.
Are you insane or something!
Dominica is one of the places in the West Indies where our greatest catch of fish are Fry’s Sprats, and ballahou, Dolphin, and flying fish are seasonal.
We all know that tuner has been imported in the country for years; where all of a sudden you are going to find this amount of fish in Dominica to export?
Are you mad guy?
Do you have enough trollers doing deep sea fishing catching more than can be consumed locally, so that you can export! Are you people not tired of talking nonsense?
If you want to hear something: Learn this: Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Antigua, St. Kitts, has the best fishing grounds in the Caribbean, none of the islands mentioned export fish, but as usual, any nonsense you all can talk to make your gullible supports feel good suites you!
In any event salt-fish imported from Canada, Back & Neck and Pig mouth are your main staples as far as relish is concern, all of a sudden, overnight you have fish to export: to where…
And this is news to be reported? It’s obvious that the esteemed Minister of Agriculture has no vision, no plan; what a freaking embarrassment!
Boy,Jono,you know is joke you making.
when you will have your son you will train him to go and fish for you to export.
Is there any more fish in Bortoe river?
Francisco, the only tuners we import are to take care of our grand pianos. If not, the tunes they produce may become a little fishy. ( May I suggest you edit your text before pressing the “send” button). Happy weekend.
Well if you cannot identify when an error is made maybe you should not read: (tuna). The Tuna I am talking about is one of the large vigorous scombroid food and sport fish, as the albacore, or a blue-fin tuna.
Now since you want to play games. I can introduce you to various flat jointed prickly pears; think in terms of the genus opuntia; if you had biology you will know what is meant by genus opuntia it is a tropical edible fruit known as tuna.
And by the way, there are Tuners which are electronic entertainment equipment which is a combination of an amplifier, and radio; some of them I sold has an audio power of more than two hundred-fifty watts output power, per channel; so if you have a four channel one of those, and you turn it loose in you house soon your ear drum’s would be useless.
I am going to have a better than good week end. Tomorrow is the 4th of July, its a holiday when there is a lot of Bar-Be-Q going on, I will simply bake a turkey to prevent me from doing…
Why do you constantly write nonsense as though they are facts.In your rush to comment you do not think, you do not read to understand.Trinidad and Guyana do export fish, stop wallowing in your ignorance.
Shut up Gary, you idiot; anything I say can be authenticated, Trinidad has the largest fish market I saw in the Caribbean, built way back in the Colonial days
Why you little idiot?
Diversion. Where is your statement for the lack of market for the bananas. Whats wrong with you sir. Stop jumping like a alcholic or drug addict. Where is your focus. Abbattoir (not working), Banana Plantlets (rehabilitation) not working, Coffee plan (not working). You need an effective PS and a good working team of Agri Officers to do the work. Stop spreading read showdo all over the place like a drug addict. We are sick of this nonesense.
At least this is a step in the right direction…hopefully this small step can lead to gainful employment for our citizens.
What right direction? You don’t even have enough fish for local consumption so what is the right direction. Further, when it has a little fish is HOE-TOE-TOE largent (money) so what nonsense you talking. He gave Castle Bruce people fig tree to plant knowing full well the marketing aspect had not been addressed now it back fire he talking fish like you can just go busheee-wee or carliss, hold a few door-may, karkar-door, taytar, or millay and export. Export to where Mr. John-dont-know? To daddy BAYME’ shop for resale?
Same BS because the markets have not been identified and the additional ground work done. With folks like this in leadership there is no hope for Dca. Sad Sad SAD!
Always Assertive!
When were fishermen ever gainfully employed in Dominica? They go out when they are short of cash and then stay home till it finish. Which fisherman in Dominica goes out to fish every day or is ready to invest in expensive equipment to stay out all night or several days and work for the bank? Why do that when you can make living easier than that? You will not get rich but don’t pay tax either and wont starve. Fisherman does not have to weed or buy fertilizer or weedkiller. Sweet live I say.
Sir with all my respect ,people from Grandbay which is the largest village in Dominica ,say very often that it is ages that they have not eaten any fish.Supply fish for the population first before thinking of exporting fish,,
Sounds like the ……. has pivoted away from exports for bananas to export of fish.Weh papa.No focus,no stability,no plan
Keep burping sir, keep on burping from the top and bottom cavities. You are just so clueless it’s pathetic
Always Assertive!
Na man, I doh know where mista does get information
If I conduct some more research on my own, I will learn that there is an upcoming vote in the United Nations to determine whether or not the Japanese can continue to over fish certain species such as dolphins and whales that are almost extinct. Hence, they will be pouring resources into Dominica and its neighbors to secure their vote at the UN General Assembly. I have seen this game before. It probably has some new wrinkles to it, but it’s the same old game. Every so often, Drigo emerges from a deep slumber with something to say, and then he disappears again.
He talkig ab[ut antigua, st kitts, st marten and those other islands north. But we already know that. .
Mr. DRIGO, PLEASE GO HIDE
Why can’t this Drigo put all the nonsense he speaks on a CD and export them..There is a large market out there for people who like to laugh, I almost said at clowns.CAN YOU REMEMBER THE MARKET FOR BANANAS?
@% oh my you have me peeing on me with laugh. You made my day. You’re so right I can’t even get fish when am in Dominica is export mista talking about. Boy look jokes.
I like this….I really like…..I really,realy,really like this.
I am in a deeeeep lol.
LOL.
Is that all you do, criticize, do you think that it is going to help the cause you embrace. Are you not ashamed asking the question quote “can you remember the markets for bananas.” Did farmers get the one dollar a pound for their bananas promised by Edison James. Why was there a great exodus of banana farmers under UWP Government lead by Edison. What was DAPEX created do and why are you not questioning their failure to do what they promised the farmers. Stop deceiving your self.The easiest thing in the world is to convince yourself that you are right contrary to evidence.
DLP, jumping all over the place, deal with the bananas
I don’t believe anything Mr Drigo says – he ordered 20000 bananas plant and now saying the market is saturated now he is talking about fish – what next Mr. Drigo
Well i for all would like to no where that market is cause the last i no of fish was making boll in dominica when i was there so whats going on
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There is an export for fish yes, but what about the export for green bananas, “aka, green gold”?
Where is the market located Mr. Drigo? USA? Canada? Europe? The Caribbean? Where????? WE would like to Know where..STUPPPPESSSSSSSS!!!!
Yeah and I need fig to go with the fish???
Drigo, you running away from bananas now? Carcon, there was always an export market for fish. Our guys have been selling their catch at sea for cash to French fishermen for years because they can not catch enough themselves and the prices prices there are higher. You don’t need fisheries complex for that. Wake up man.
sixty million Frenchmen could not be wrong.
Be very very careful of this… the Japanese have fished out all the whales and dolphins in their waters. They have an eye on Dominica because we do not engage in commercial fishing. It would be a very sad day when they ask for fishing contracts to fish in our waters at the expense of the habitat. The whales that a near the coast of Dominica are there because it is untouched and its one of the few places left in the world they can stay year round.
Money isn’t everything…. its just paper. Once you loose the habitat its gone forever.
We are the Nature Island for a reason!
If a picture is worth a thousand words; this guy does not look reassuming about this faish market for young people–all talk – bla, blah
no Mr. uninformed drigo, fish was always trans shipped from Venezuela to Dominica, Guadeloupe being the final destination…
don’t spoil the silence you were displaying on the destruction of our agricultural sector…