Discussions are presently underway between Jamaican and Colombian authorities with a view to repatriating the 34 Jamaicans who were allegedly caught fishing illegally in Colombian waters, as early as next Saturday.

After raising the issue in the Senate on Friday during her contribution to the State of the Nation Debate, the Minister of Fofreign Affairas and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith issued a statement on Saturday where she said the talks were ongoing. She told the Senate on Friday that Jamaica had made arrangements for the fishermen to return this Saturday, November 4 but the Colombian authorities requested additional time and instead proposed November 12.

The foreign affairs minister advised that the Colombian and Jamaican Governments will conduct a joint operation to return the crew of the vessel to Jamaica, which will result in a meeting between the coast guards of both countries for the transfer of the crew, at an agreed point on the high seas.

“We are looking forward to the safe return of these Jamaican nationals who understandably want to be back home with their families. As a Ministry and with our partners the Ministry of Agriculture and the JDF [Jamaica Defence Force), we will continue to work towards this goal,” said Johnson Smith.

She disclosed that on October 19, her Ministry was informed by the JDF that a Jamaican fishing vessel, registered under the name Hope-On, had been detained in Colombian waters by the Colombian authorities.

Johnson Smith said that on October 20 the Ministry enlisted the assistance of Jamaica’s Embassy in Bogota to ascertain details of the incident, to commence the requisite verification of the Jamaican nationality of the crew, and to determine their needs. She said the Colombian reported that 6,430 kilogrammes of parrot fish were found in the vessel and that a total of 41 persons were on board.

The minister said further that on November 2, the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency completed the verification process, indicating that 34 of those on the vessel were Jamaicans, one is Honduran, and six are nationals of the Dominican Republic.

“The owner, who operates a commercial fishing enterprise, advised that he was seeing to the needs of the crew who were not in jail, but living on the vessel. He also indicated that he had retained the services of a lawyer in Colombia and hoped to secure arrangements to have the vessel released and the crew to sail it back to Jamaica,” said Johnson Smith.

Aware of the risks, and concerned about the welfare of the Jamaican nationals, Johnson Smith said her ministry enquired of the Colombian authorities whether such a process could be facilitated.

However, it was confirmed that the vessel had been seized and would be sold as provided for in Colombian law, and that while the captain would be detained to face charges in Colombia, they would still keep the offer open to transport the other members of the crew to a point agreed with the JDF.

On Friday, the minister appealed to fisherfolk to operate responsibly. She said “owners and fishermen need to recognise that times have changed and countries have changed their laws. Illegal fishing is a major international issue. Vessels are seized and crew are liable to be imprisoned. We are grateful that in this case the whole crew has not been detained,” she said.

She added that “owners, operators and fishers need to fish responsibly in Jamaican waters. Boat owners also need to insure their vessels, not only for damage but for loss and seizure and also for the care and protection of their crew”.