Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

Cummings

The Government has completed its policy for the fisheries sector and new legislation is being drafted to impose stiffer fines and penalties for breaches of the country's fishing regulations.

Junior Minister for Agriculture and Lands, Victor Cummings, in his presentation to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament yesterday, said the document was the first official policy on fisheries, including aquaculture in Jamaica.

"It is looking at the long-term development and sustainability of our fisheries industry," he told his parliamentary colleagues.

Six major areas

The new policy targets six major areas in the fishing sector. These are: monitoring and safety at sea; social and economic development; hygienic standards; processing; marketing, and international trade of fish and fish products.

Turning to the new Fishing Act, Mr. Cummings said it would be drafted by year-end and should be introduced in Parliament before the end of the current legislative year.

He said the new fishing law would also encompass aquaculture regulations and high-seas fishing regulations.

On the question of local-government reform, Mr. Cummings, who was a member of the Joint Select Committee on Local Government Reform, said a revised charter for the city of Kingston was long overdue.

He said that as part of the new charter, there should be the direct election of mayors; a recall provision where councillors and mayors could be recalled; recognition of community councils, and proper delineation of city boundaries.

"When you ask people in St. Andrew where they live, they'll tell you in Kingston. Kingston stops at Torrington Bridge, and based on law, the KSAC Act, the city of Kingston stops at Up Park Camp," Cummings explained.

He contended that the city limits at Ferry and above Stony Hill were wrong, as they did not represent the legal city limits.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com