At a press conference at Nassau International Airport, Mr. Christie said that while in Monterrey, Mexico attending the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Summit of the Americas, he spoke with the president of the Dominican Republic Hip�lito Mej�a, about the matter which has proved challenging for Bahamian authorities and caused ire among local fishermen.
“It has been agreed that at an early stage there will be a meeting between our two countries to deal with outstanding issues including poaching by their [Dominican] fishermen in Bahamian waters,” Mr. Christie said.
Local fishermen raised the issue of poaching late last year when the government decided to impose a ban on grouper fishing during this month.
The fishermen wanted to be able to fish for grouper in January because inclement weather during the final months of 2003 made it difficult for them to fish and cut deep into their profits.
But fishery officials indicated that January was a critical spawning period for grouper and not imposing the ban would result in the depletion of the fish stocks.
Fisheries Minister V. Alfred Gray said that the government had acquired new aircraft for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, which he believed will assist greatly in the apprehension of illegal foreign fishermen.
During the Bahamian-Dominican talks which have not yet been scheduled, joint initiatives in the field of tourism will also be explored, Prime Minister Christie said.
While in Mexico, Mr. Christie also met with the Mexican President Vicente Fox.
He said that he discussed with Mexican government officials the possibility of granting scholarships for technical and vocational training for Bahamians.
“I have spoken to the Mexican Foreign Minister about sending persons from Mexico to train Bahamians in the building of furniture,” Mr. Christie said.
He added that furniture building is one of the areas in which the government intended to train incarcerated persons as part of its plans for prison reform.
“We have committed publicly to ensuring that we have a dynamic furniture building programme within the prison,” Mr. Christie said. “We have been exploring neighbouring countries in the region about obtaining trainers for that purpose so I took the opportunity in fact to ask the Mexican government to help us in this area.”
By Julian Reid, The Bahama Journal
