Fishermen in San Fernando are calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to rein in Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Ravi Ratiram, who they accuse of allowing a party boat operator to use the San Fernando Fishing Centre for private events.
During a peaceful protest at King’s Wharf yesterday, San Fernando Fishing Cooperative Society Ltd president, Bobby Sooklalsingh, said the privately owned vessel had been moored at the facility for more than a month. Built for fisherfolk, the jetty has now become the centre of a bitter dispute.
Sooklalsingh said when the society enquired about the boat, they were told the operator had permission to use the jetty. He recalled that the cooperative previously clashed with the same vessel at the old facility, and noted that the area it now occupies was meant for larger fishing boats.
He questioned why a party boat was allowed while some 20 registered fishermen were denied mooring until they received official numbers.
“The facility was not designed for party boats. It is a security risk, too, because you have partygoers consuming alcohol. You do not know what can happen. The place is fenced and has security, so we want to know who is securing these people? Who is looking after them?” Sooklalsingh asked.
Fishermen claimed that last Saturday, a party was hosted on the vessel where patrons fought as they returned to the jetty.
They also claimed the operator’s staff bullied fishermen, and complaints were lodged with the Fisheries Division.
Another party is advertised for August 31.
“At no time were we informed that party boats would be coming here, and we were supposed to share it with a private entity. That is a man’s private and personal vessel. Every vessel here we register with the Government.”
Sooklalsingh noted that other party boats operate elsewhere along the waterfront without issues.
Cooperative vice president Clinton Lochan alleged that Customs and Excise, coast guard, and police officers once attempted to remove the vessel but stopped after a minister intervened.
“Everything we are saying here is going directly to the Prime Minister now because we are fed up. We sent emails to the PS, the minister, the MP, and all whom we could think of. We are trying to go the right way, but we are not getting any answers. I voted. Where are my rewards? Not because people campaigned with you all, you all owe them anything. He is already a director in the Carnival thing. Whatever you owe him, you already gave him that,” Lochan claimed.
He suggested that the operator buy waterfront land and build a private jetty, or use the floating pontoon at the Water Taxi terminal.
Veteran fisherman Randall Jagan recalled returning from sea around 7 pm last Saturday and finding the jetty clogged with vehicles from the party.
“When you asked them to move, they said they had permission from the boss so they could park anywhere. They just blocked up everything. I had to beg someone to move their vehicle so I could take my gas and equipment from my boat, which I found unfair. They actually commandeered the whole jetty,” Jagan said.
Lochan said they are now appealing directly to Persad-Bissessar.
“In my opinion, if the minister allowed this to happen without the Prime Minister knowing anything, then he needs to be replaced,” he claimed.
Lochan added, “How can you put a party boat in the middle of a fishing facility? I am coming to go to sea, and I see partygoers, and I have to ask for an excuse because I want to pass with my bag of ice. What will they do to me?”
Sooklalsingh said the society, which has over 100 boats, wrote to the ministry about their issues but received no response.
Guardian Media attempted to contact Ratiram for comment, but there was no response up to yesterday evening.
