Police concerned over fisher-folk safety

Fishermen at San Sauveur
Fishermen at San Sauveur

Police Public Relations Officer ASP Claude Weekes is making a strong appeal to fisher-folk to comply with the rules and procedures governing their safety to prevent the possibility of getting lost at sea without being able to contact the authorities.

His remarks come after two fishermen from the Good hope community, Gabrielle Laurent and Xavier Antoine, got lost at sea for two days after they left for a fishing expedition from the neighboring community of San Sauveur.

They were rescued by two female French sailors 12 miles west of the Cabrits on the northern tip of the island.

It is reported that they had no means of contacting authorities of their predicament.

“It is critical that Dominican fishermen comply with the rules and procedures governing their security and safety,” he told Dominica News Online on Monday 6th July 2015. “Time and time again the Fisheries Division and the Police Coast Guard have trained fishermen with respect to safety measures and communication when they go out to sea but here it is in this case these two fishermen left their cell phones which made contact highly impossible with the authorities while lost at sea.”

The Police PRO said this is an important lesson that fisher-folk should put safety at the forefront of their minds.

“We appeal to the fishermen to heed the warnings. They need to take responsibility for their safety and security at all times when they go out on high seas. They must go equipped,” he stated.

The two were towed to the Roseau Fisheries Complex and Weekes said they have been in good health.

According to the men they went through some “hard times” and thought they would never make it.

“But thank God, God open a way for us we find somebody to rescue us,” Antoine said.

He informed that they had an engine breakdown and several attempts to restart it prove futile.

He said their food supply consisted of EC$4 worth of bread, a pack of biscuit and some juice but that soon ran out.

His fishing companion ended up consuming sun-roasted fish, salt water and sugar.

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11 Comments

  1. Trouble
    July 7, 2015

    WELCOME HOME

  2. Zandoli
    July 7, 2015

    You are going onto the open ocean and you are relying on God to save you?
    You and the rest of the fishermen who go out ill-equipped are complete idiots.

    You have been flirting with danger time and time again, sure you must know if you play the odds, your number will eventually come up.

  3. The Real Facts
    July 6, 2015

    It was stated they went out at 7:00 pm; another stated it was 7:00 am.
    They must have thought they will go about their business of catching fish and would soon return which is why they had so little food and water and did not have a cellular phone. They really took a big chance.
    Guys, you scared your family of all and had them worried stiff. Hope you never, ever allow this recur. Advise other fishers accordingly so that they do not make such a mistake which could have cost you your life.
    Thank God they were found. I think they learned a lesson. We are all elated that you were found unharmed.
    God was really with you and keeping you safe. Give thanks to Him and the two female French sailors who did a good job of rescuing you. You are indeed fortunate.

    • The Real Facts
      July 6, 2015

      “to recur”

  4. July 6, 2015

    He said their food supply consisted of EC$4 worth of bread, a pack of biscuit and some juice but that ran out.
    His fishing companion ended up consuming sun-roasted fish, salt water and sugar.

    his companion is a general … would have done the same.

  5. July 6, 2015

    in this day and age fisher folks should not be that careless . probably laws should be in place to penalize/punish them when they do not abide by the rules.

  6. John Paul
    July 6, 2015

    A cheap nokia Digicel phone will allow the fishermen to call through the french islands .Maybe they have expensive phones and they afraid they get wet with salt water .But when your life depends on it put it in a zip lock bag and take it with you.the Telephone company can locate your location as long as Your phone is active !

    • The Real Facts
      July 6, 2015

      I thought the same, placing the phones in a plastic bag when going out to sea.

  7. Titiwi
    July 6, 2015

    I am sorry and at the same time not sorry. These days it is inexcusable to go sea without means of communication. Not only did they put themselves at peril but caused a lot of unnecessary stress for the community. This is very serious. You guys already have an advantage in that profits on fishing are tax free and we should seriously consider revoking their fishing license, at least for some time, to drive home the message.

  8. July 6, 2015

    typo!! meant to read their, too much social media language taking over I must admit.

  9. July 6, 2015

    We are all happy tour two fishermen were found alive. Having said that AS per A. S.P weeks over and over our fisher men are being educated and train to handle certain situations in the event of an unforseen emergancy suddenly spring up. One may want to attribute such behavavior to human nature, that some persons ignore information, and advice even if there lives depends on puting into practice what was taught to them. We can cite many such situations in our little Country and further afield. Please all of us must take heed that God help those who help themselves, also our heartfelt thanks goes out to those two wonderful ladies who was at the right place at the write time. God is good all the time, all the time God is good, Remember! our police officers are human and cant create magic in situations like those. Hope that serves as a warning to all of us to heed good advise and practice safety at all times.,

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