Port Morant Fishing Village needs infrastructure

The distant memory of a lively Port Morant Fishing Village which invited much businesses to the St Thomas location lives rent-free in the minds of fishermen still operating in the area.

Those that remain remember a time when the small village was one of the most preferred stops for seafood shopping, with consumers travelling past other markets just to access their treasured buzz bait, a fresh catch from one of the best harbours in the country, Bowden Harbour.

Lanzurt Hemming, who has been a member of the fishing society in the community for more than 30 years shared, however, that though the quality of their catch remains premium, the Port Morant Fishing Village has not been buzzing as it did in the past.

"At first the fishing village was very great and now it's just a handful of boats here. First time you would see paddle and engine boats coming in regularly from sea. When Saturday and Sunday mornings come it was like a carnival on this beach but of late we lost it, we just a try find it back," he said.

According to him, "The biggest contribution to the downfall of the beach is that the younger generation not putting their input to the fishing. They are more on the hustling side. Is we the elders fighting with it."

Hemming, who spoke heartily of the joys of fishing, admitted that it has proved over the years to be a very rewarding trade, sharing that much can be garnered from it once the work is put in. "It's a beneficial experience. I have over 30-plus years of experience and if it was unbeneficial then I would have come out of it long time. I can encourage any young person to take it up."

"There is one youngster here doing his thing too so I don't know how many will get jealous and follow him," Hemming said referring to Oshane Walcott who has been fishing at the village for some time.

Agreeing to the rewards that come from baiting hooks and casting spoon, the angler gave his stamp of approval on the profession.

He shared that he has so far had a good run at the village and suggested that other young people would venture into the deep waters to make a living if the village had the necessary infrastructure. The men who had gathered on the seashore nodded in agreement that the Port Morant Fishing Village could use a facelift and that the area is poised for development.

Walcott shared his hope that investors would see the "gold mine" that they are working at and move to provide the financial fuel needed to salvage it.

"They would need to know what they are investing in and to realise that if you invest in fishing right now, there is no losing, especially here. The gas station, which is the only one in St Thomas where you can get boat gas, is right here on site so that's a plus," he said. Among the needed facilities are bathrooms and proper storage areas.

"We don't feel safe. We need the storage mainly because we can't leave anything here or they might get stolen. As we come from sea, engine has to come off the boat and everything carry home," he said. "Fishing is wonderful. It beats everything that is out a door, we just need the facilities."