KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Fenton Ferguson has welcomed news of the return of the fishermen stranded in the Caribbean to Jamaican shores.

The men, some of who suffered injuries, were rescued by the Colombian Coast Guard following a fire on their vessel two weeks ago.

“The Government and people of Colombia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith and her staff must be commended for the safe return of our fisher folks,” Dr Ferguson said in a release from his party.

He also extended best wishes to the men’s relatives and communities “whose prayers kept them safe”.

Dr Ferguson said systems must be put in place to provide some level of protection for the nation’s fisherfolk who literally put their lives at risk on a daily basis to keep the industry afloat and support their families.

“In my sectorial debate in Parliament in June 2018, when I spoke on a new deal for agriculture, I called on the government to establish in partnership – a group life insurance and a disaster relief fund for fisherfolk and I use this opportunity to again make this special appeal,” the shadow minister said.