The Alliance For Change is deeply concerned over the continued failure of the PPP/C Government to protect fishermen. This continued failure on the part of the PPP/C Government will result in the loss of livelihoods for many families especially those on the Essequibo and the Corentyne. The failure to offer adequate protection has already resulted in the loss of lives for many fishermen and now the others who make their living by going out to sea are afraid to do so.
The government's lip service of looking out for fishermen and developing the fishing industry is a lot of 'hot air' when one looks at what the ordinary fishermen are going through. Every day that fishermen are out at sea trying to earn a living and provide for their families, is a day their families spend agonising over whether they will return.
Instead of ensuring the protection of these ordinary people, the PPP/C government gives us a lot of noise about how the industry is developing. The fishing industry cannot really develop when humble fishermen are afraid to go out to sea, when their very lives are in danger if they venture out, when there is every likelihood that if their lives are spared, they are very likely to loose their boats, engines and seines.
Instead of ensuring that the Police Force is equipped to offer protection for fishermen, you may recall that the PPP/C government approved the purchase of a $17 million luxury boat by the Police. It was only when the media revealed that it was a luxury boat that was bought that then Minister of Home Affairs in attempting to cover up the matter, encouraging more lawlessness by saying those police ranks responsible for buying the pleasure craft must pay back the money to the Consolidated Fund. What transpired was fraud and ought to have been prosecuted according to the law instead, there was a 'white-wash' and a few senior ranks got a slap on the risk. Since the pleasure craft was purchased in 2009, it was not until 2012 that the Ministry of Home Affairs after prodding from the media, not the state media, admitted that the vessel was not what ought to have been purchased, in the meantime many more millions were spent repairing the boat which could never have been put into service.
Instead of $17 million luxury boats and a $20 million water cannon that can only wash away fleas, the PPP/C government should ensure that the money allocated to the police Force is spent on motor patrol boats that can protect our fishermen.
The time has long past when the GDF Coast Guard and the Guyana Police Force Maritime Fleet. It is ridiculous that in this modern era, these agencies are not capable of patrolling our waters. It is even more ridiculous when the Government claim to lack the financial resources to equip these two agencies while at the same time the government is taking money to invest in Marriot Hotel and casino and expand the airport in the hope that visitors will use it.
No family should have to suffer the anguish like the families of Khemraj Dhanpat, Clifford Singh, Ouditnarine Ramnarine, Mahendra Ompertab and Kenneth Melville just to name a few. [END]
