LONG ISLAND, Bahamas — Over 60 Long Island fishermen expressed concerns about the fishing industry during a meeting with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Royal Bahamas Defence Force officials including Commodore Roderick Bowe at Holy Cross Anglican Church’s community centre on the weekend.
The local fishermen are concerned about foreigners poaching in Bahamian waters, protection at sea, amendments to the fisheries act and unfair competition in bonefishing among others.
Government officials attending the meeting included Agriculture and Marine Resource Minister the Hon Lawrence Cartwright; Public Works and Transport Minister the Hon Neko Grant; Education Minister the Hon Desmond Cartwright and Minister of State for Social Services the Hon Loretta Butler-Turner. Permanent secretary Colin Higgs director John Canton and administrator Jordan Ritchie were also present.
“There are some things that we can do to make life better for you,” said Prime Minister Ingraham. He told the fishermen that the within the last four years the Government has been devising a plan to equip the Defence Force beginning in 2014.
He referred to initiatives including the addition of aircrafts, and small substations in Grand Bahama, Abaco, Inagua including one under construction in Ragged Island.
By: Kathryn Campbell
Bahamas Information Services
