Dear Editor,

I am of the view that some bureaucrats in our various ministries are in the business of only securing their jobs, nothing else. They are experts at making grand pronouncements and feeding the public rhetoric that amounts to nothing. And our media seemingly never ask questions of these people.

I cite the recent pronouncement of Andre Kong, director of fisheries, telling all and sundry that fishing lobsters in the closed season, April to June, would attract a fine of $3 million upon conviction. This, I suppose, is expected to make violators of the law shudder in their boots, whipping them into compliance.

But we know this will not work unless we have enforcement.

In Old Harbour Bay fishermen are still catching and selling lobster. On the beach in Rocky Point, Clarendon, I am told that lobsters are being sold for $300 per pound. We can just imagine what is happening on the other major fishing beaches. Where are the Fisheries Department’s law enforcement officers?

Kong should tell us why the enforcement officers — game and fish wardens — are not visibly policing the fishing beaches to ensure even a semblance of compliance with the law?

Until and unless we have strict enforcement of our laws we will not have compliance but the continued feel-good rhetoric for bureaucrats.

Authnel S Reid

reidaut@icloud.com