Alligator Pond fisherfolk plead for Gov’t assistance
ALLIGATOR POND, Manchester — Fisherfolk in Alligator Pond are pleading for their cries to be heard by the Government as they are struggling to survive with dwindling fish stock and high gas prices.
Alligator Pond fisherman Floyd Thomas told the Jamaica Observer that with over 300 fisherfolk depending on the south-central fishing village, the high cost of fuel has driven down profit.
“We have more fishermen down here, so we have to extend our body of fishing, because in Alligator Pond we fish in Big Rock, Bay Bush, Guinea and Deep Water,” he said last Wednesday.
“We have to adjust to the gas price,” he added.
Thompson, who spoke on behalf of fisherfolk in Alligator Pond, said the expenditure on fuel is too high.
“It is $70,000 to fill the big drum with gas and usually $30,000 would fill it,” he said.
Opposition spokesman on agriculture and fisheries Lothan Cousins said he understands the plight of fisherfolk.
“The fisherfolk have a lot to deal with. It is hard to go out there every day to transverse the waters. You don’t know what is going to happen when you go out there, because it is a risky job,” he said on Thursday.
He added that the increase in fuel cost associated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been detrimental to the fishing industry.
“We have seen a steady increase in the cost of fuel over the last two, three months and it certainly has impacted, in a negative way, the fisherfolk,” he said.
“I certainly would join with all the stakeholders in the country for the removal of the gas tax. It was initially conceptualised to assist with road maintenance,” he added.
He pointed out that the cost associated with fishing gear and boat repairs are high.
“A bigger challenge facing the fisherfolk is the rising cost of fiberglass material to fix their boats,” he said.
“What obtains now is that the Government charges 20 per cent duty on fiberglass material. However, an application can be made to the Ministry of Finance for an exemption for fisherfolk that is provided for in law,” he added.
“Oftentimes what happens is that many of the fisherfolk purchase the fiberglass materials and are paying the 20 per cent GCT on the material up front. Then they have to apply to the ministry for the refunding of that 20 per cent and that makes no sense whatsoever,” he said.
Thomas said fisherfolk have to be considerate when passing on the expenses to consumers.
“Is not everybody can manage the price, we tried to raise it to adjust with the gas and it is not worth it, because everybody a cry. We haffi just drop it back,” he said.
“We feel it more than the people weh a buy it [fish] and we end up sorry for them, because some a seh nutten naa gwan fi dem,” he added.
