Greenwich Farm fisherfolk hope for better days

Fisherfolk at the Greenwich Farm Fishing Village are hoping that the rehabilitation plans the Government intends to begin later this year will not only improve the infrastructure of the fishing centre but will see the implementation of fishing nurseries and fishing laws.

THE STAR visited the nautical community yesterday, and was greeted by residents who sat awaiting midday sales. They lamented that since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, their sales have been low. Their problems are magnified as the constant increase in gas prices is becoming unbearable.

"Normally for a oil jug, we affi pay $2,700 to full dat. Right now it gone to $4,200 a di gas station fi full it and dat only carry me one time to sea, fi go and come back. Me only go pass Port Royal Bay and come back an still have to buy gas when me come back. Gas price dem sticky bad," Captain Carlton Black shared.

He recounted that on his most recent trip on the weekend, Black and his assistant were only able to catch two pounds of sprat, which he sold at $2,000.

"Dat caah buy back the gas, no profit nuh deh pon it. Sale can't even pick up good 'cause a di COVID ting. Yuh see before COVID, as Lent start yuh woulda see people a drive come down here a look sprat and dinner fish," he said.

The Calabar High School graduate, who threw his first fishing line at age 12, spent his early life at the fishing village. Like his peers there, he commends the move by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund to begin transforming the village into a commercial operation. Black, 39, stated that the community is looking at its worst in years and called for more recreational spaces to be erected, pointing to the recently constructed community park.

Another fisherman, Lionel Davis, who has more than 40 years of experience at sea, cited the urgent need for proper docks as well as proper waste management. Davis explained that pollution damages the harbour and depletes schools of fish.

"Now Government nah nuh proper regulation of the industry and so we nah nuh fish nursery round here. So when you check it out, the place overfish. I want dem clean up the [Kingston] harbour and regulate how much we can fish. We need better walls, more toilet systems, that's what we want," the 65-year-old said.

During a tour of the Greenwich Farm zone of special operations last Friday, Dr Horace Chang, deputy prime minister and minister of national security, said the project emphasises the Government's approach to holistic development of communities.

"All the services that are required to improve the lives of the fisherfolk will be provided to create an environment where there can be peace and public safety through the kind of development that can improve the wealth of the people in the area," Chang said.