Fond Cole fisherman laments theft of fishing equipment

Outboard engine with propeller missing
Outboard engine with propeller missing

One Fond Cole fisherman is seeking answers to a spate of theft against fishermen in his community.

This is the second time in the last few months that fishing equipment belonging to Paul Simon Bique has been stolen from his boat which was beached at Fond Cole.

Bique told Dominica News Online (DNO) on Friday that just a few months ago, the propeller was stolen from a boat that he previously owned and on the first day of the New Year, thieves struck again.

He said he woke up on New Year’s Day to discover that once again, the propeller from his 75 horse power engine and some fittings, were missing.

Wednesday afternoon I went down by the seaside; I watched the boat, observed it. The engine was covered and secured, because I did not want anyone scratching the engine, especially children who would come around the area,” he said. “Thursday morning I decided to go down at the seaside to wash the boat and remove sand particles that were inside, then to wash out the sea water that was around it.”

He continued, “I washed the right side, so I am turning to the stern area (the back of the boat). When I washed one side facing by the engine, I now lifting up my head and about to cross to the other side, I noticed the bag was cut directly where the propeller was. I opened it and realized the propeller wasn’t there.”

Bique (left) with boat from which ropeller was stolen
Bique received his new boat just two days before the propeller was stolen

Bique said that the boat was a new one which he had received just two days before.

“I remember last year they took my propeller from my 75 horse-power engine. It took two days since I brought my new boat ashore from where it was made in Colihaut to Fond Cole and my propeller was stolen….It didn’t have a week, or two or a month, just two days it was stolen,” he lamented.

He said the matter was reported the same day to the police and they are investigating.

And according to Bique, he is not the only victim of such acts of theft. He said there were other fishermen in the area whose fishing equipment was stolen last year.

“Although the young man boat was anchored out they took the steering wheel, they cut his cable…other equipment on his boat was stolen,” he said, adding, “Many times before the store rooms were broken into and fishermen equipment went missing.”

Beaching area at Fond Cole
Beaching area at Fond Cole

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18 Comments

  1. grell
    January 5, 2015

    Lawless country so sad.

  2. The Facts
    January 4, 2015

    Thieves never rest, sleep and are heartless. One day you will pay for this.

  3. RASTAFARILEADSTHEWAY
    January 4, 2015

    Install cameras… lots of cameras, and post signs stating the the area is secured by cameras, put money together to higher a guard in the meantime. Fence in the are where the boats are kept. etc etc.

    • anonymous2
      January 5, 2015

      Do you realize how much money that costs a person?? Do you think everyone is rich here?? Why don’t you offer to pay for the security.

    • The Facts
      January 5, 2015

      The word is “hire”

    • PS
      January 6, 2015

      I like that. “Higher” a guard…. I suppose that is better than to “lower” a. guard anyway.

  4. ??????????????????
    January 4, 2015

    Some observation. Why do some persons now have to be envious of hard workers. I say this as it seems to be the norm that some persons especially some who takes politics so serious, when they see someone who works hard, decides what they have was given to them (especially if it is perceived that they may have supported the ruling party). There seems to be no Banks, Credit Unions & Loans have been abolished. This is extremely sad & those hard workers are vandalised because of the (ignorant misled persons) mind that someone gave them something that they should themselves be entitled to. In retrospect, it is the those who claim to be university graduates (Proud) who are sowing those seeds of discord in the minds of those persons. I sympathise with Mr. Bique who everyone knows is a hard worker. People those who do those acts of imposing on the ignorant who do not understand the works of Government stop this. Educate the people since they will turn on you, if & when you…

  5. Anthony Ismael
    January 4, 2015

    Although law enforcement’s resources are limited, it’s also time to change the policing model. More random patrols are needed. Police officers should not be sitting at the police station, waiting on a call to assist.

    They should be visible at all times.

    • Ex DA law man
      January 5, 2015

      I completely agree with you.The police needs to be more proactive.I wonder if there is any plan in place to combat the ever rising crime rate.Its not a big country so it’s not that hard.Simply identify the troublesome areas (beaches,nightclubs, villages with bad areas,etc.)based on your observation, you increase patrol.

  6. Anthony Ismael
    January 4, 2015

    The time has come to assist fishermen in constructing proper facilities to store their equipment. May assistance through a cooperative would be a great way to start. Gone are the days when fishermen could leave their fishing gear in the open and no one would tamper with it.

    These sheds in the photo are inadequate to protect their assets.

  7. Mahaut talk roro
    January 4, 2015

    Let skirooo build a better boat house with pad lock

  8. January 4, 2015

    First of all sorry sir for the lost of your equipment and others who have suffered losses. Now lets be for real there it is one of the most important sector of our society, if not the economy,. Which I believe it is. When will we learn to be Proactive, rather than reactive. To be clear I am not blaming the hard working men and women in the industry. but when will we learn that by the looks of that boat shed which by my observations and what I saw with my own eyes when I made a stop to buy some fresh fish. Clearly in our time where certain persons do not respect other people`s property no matter what angle we look at it. Its painful to comprehend in light of the above mentioned why? isn’t more done to further protect those hard working amongst us. The need for proper storage with at least the minimum security such as security cameras proper lighting emergency call stations for persons to report suspicious activities to our hard working Law enforces. What will it take for such…

    • anonymous2
      January 5, 2015

      Do you live in Dominica?? You would know the answer to your questions if you did.

    • PS
      January 6, 2015

      Tst, tst #dominican#. Verbal diarrhoea again? Just put it simple. When a country’s leader publicly proclaims to have no respect for law or constitution there is no bar to stealing. Kleptomania becomes a virtue rather than a disease.

  9. anonymous2
    January 4, 2015

    He’s not the only one. Theft is rampant in the fishing section with equipment, boats and fish pots disappearing. Theft overall is out of control on this island and you don’t hear much about it in the news. Everyday someone on DA has things stolen from them by thieves. There needs to be a fitting punishment but I don’t think that these thieves care what they do to other people and they will continue in their ways even after getting caught…..if that happens.

  10. January 3, 2015

    I may be wrong,but it looks like sabotage .

  11. DANZIGER
    January 3, 2015

    Sir go down on yr knees it will fall on them cuz when you have what is yours and a V OLEUR rub it no, no, no, sa tot wede.

  12. High Voltage.
    January 3, 2015

    Fight fire with fire brother, Put some high voltage around that boat, make sure no kids can get to it and fry him

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