Fishermen feel safer on Pedro Cays than mainland

Upon exiting the fishing boat after docking at the Pedro Cays early Saturday morning, the news team was greeted by a flock of 'booby birds' and a smiling Kenton Ricketts.

"Unno come man, unno inna safe hands. Do anything unno like," he said with a grin after taking a sip of his rum special.

Ricketts, who has been visiting Pedro Cays since 1996, stated that the area did not always have a squeaky-clean image, and credits the serenity to the Coast Guard base that was erected on the shores a few years ago.

"From the Government and the Coast Guard dem out here, we nah see nuh pirate. Before the soldiers and police dem come out here, one man use to have all five guns, because a man nah go make yuh come and draw him fish pot and him can't do nutten. Him have to have a gun, too, so him can defend him ting, suh him can carry food go a him yard," Ricketts said.

"If the Government never come over here, probably over here would a mash up or people would be afraid to come, because ano every man want to own a gun, because guns are destruction," he added.

In addition to being a fisherman, Ricketts could have easily become a comedian, as he comically explained how much safer it is on Pedro Cays than the mainland.

"No man can't come with any illegal firearm because, once we know, we a go call the soldier dem. We a carry dem go to dem ourselves. We don't want any badman over here, because a dem mash up di place. Yuh see di way killing a gwan a land? None nah gwan over here suh, so mi feel safer. Mi stay inna mi lane, and mi good," Ricketts said.

The Rocky Point, Clarendon resident has been a fisherman for more than 25 years. He said his career choice was inevitable, as he grew up around fisherfolk. He told THE STAR that his experience on the ocean has not always been calm, as he has been robbed by pirates multiple times.

"Mi born right inna it a Rocky Point. Mi born yah so and the sea deh out deh so, so mi did have to get in it. Sometimes di fish deh near and sometimes it deh far. The sea rough sometimes eno, but that is how life is. Sometimes the sea terrible and the waves dem nah play; and a next time, pirates will pass through while we out there and take away fish, Delco system, and whatever else dem can get," he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Carlton Wiles, who said he has never witnessed a gun-for-drugs trade. He stated that many rumours have been spread over the years about the cays' activities, but stated that there are only law-abiding persons hustling on the tiny island.

"Over here is safe, and no drugs and guns are over here. If dat did ever here, a bare war woulda gwan over it. When mi deh over here mi feel alright, and even better than when mi deh a land. The security forces dem protect and keep the discipline. Teeth and tongue meet, but once a fight start, the police and soldier a come, and who fi get lock up a go get lock up," Wiles said.