- Photo by Adrian Frater
Almost knee-deep in water, these three fishermen from the Whitehouse fishing beach were seen inspecting a boat engine shortly before heading out to sea yesterday morning.
Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
SEVEN WEEKS after the passage of Hurricane Ivan, fishermen in the Gillings Gully Fisherman's Co-operative in Westmoreland, and the Whitehouse, White Sands Co-operative in Montego Bay, are yet to receive financial assistance from the government.
"I understand that it (the aid) is in the making, an assessment has been done and some survey is still being done and questionnaires are being filled out but it is a long time in waiting," said Havland Honeyghan, chairman of the Gillings Gully Cooperative and the Jamaica Fisherman's Co-operative Union.
Estimating the damage to the Whitehouse fishing industry at about $40 million, Mr. Honeyghan told The Gleaner on Thursday that fishermen are picking up the pieces as the industry as a whole was hard-hit by Hurricane Ivan.
Members of the Whitehouse, White Sands Fishing Co-operative, in Montego Bay, are also reeling from the devastation caused by the hurricane. "We lost a lot of traps that we were not able to take up. We are looking at about $2 to $3 million in losses," said Troy Jump, chairman of the co-operative. "A roll of mesh costs $8,500, and that is just one type we use two to make our traps. A dozen fish pot sticks cost $200 and each trap will take three dozen sticks that does not include nail and binding wire."
Also, lamenting the absence of aid from the government, Mr. Jump pointed out most fishermen lost something during the hurricane. "I lost 30 traps, another man lost 25, some lost 15, my group consists of 74 fishermen and every man lost something," said Mr. Jump. He said that the destruction of the fishing sector was not being treated with the necessary urgency and respect.
