Sometime last year I enquired on the Voice of Barbados Brass Tacks programme about progress on Barbados/Trinidad and Tobago negotiations relating to the long-running, vexatious and incendiary problem of Barbadian fishermen going after flying fish in Tobago waters.
My question was predicated on the premise that Prime Minister David Thompson had said when he was Leader of the Opposition – and the problem was of major concern – that it could be easily resolved over a bowl of fish soup at Consett Bay. The response from a well known and well placed regular caller was that there was no problem, copious catches were being landed and reports of fishermen and their catches being seized were no longer dominating the headlines.
Knowing of my interest in regional affairs in general and concern about the flying fish impasse, a friend brought me a copy of the Tobago News of Friday, January 28. The front page headline was Bajan Invasion with the subhead Tension Rising Over Fishermen In T&T Waters.
The story on Page 3 was headlined Bajan Fishermen Still In Tobago Waters. So for the second consecutive week, the principal focus of this column relates to the beloved national fish of Barbados, a plentiful and valued staple whose future we would wish to ensure is trouble-free and guaranteed.
The Tobago News said: “Tensions are rising again over the issue of Barbadian fishermen operating in Tobago waters. Fishermen from the north side fishing villages of Castara/Parlatuvier are claiming that when they set their fads/rafts in Tobago waters, the Bajans come in and tie their boats on the rafts.”
The story quoted the secretary of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association as saying that some rafts were missing and “the Bajans are exploiting our fish stock in our waters and we have been complaining to the Tobago House of Assembly Fisheries Division about the situation but to date nothing has been done”.
“Whenever we see the Bajans and confront them, we are subjected to obscenity, insults and abuse.”
If this report is factual, while we do not necessarily expect our fishermen to also be diplomats, they need to be told that when their hands are in the lion’s mouth, it is dangerous to be wrong and strong.
The secretary also said a letter was sent to the Director of Fisheries, the Assembly Chief Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, National Security Minister, police and coastguard, a meeting was convened and the coastguard gave an assurance to respond to “any report of Barbadians fishing in Tobago waters”. Clearly the Tobagonians are treating the incursions as serious provocations and have sought the full assistance of security authorities. When apprehended for fishing illegally, no amount of cussing or insults will free these Bajans.
I have no idea why the touted fish soup diplomacy has not materialized at Consett Bay or elsewhere. Judging from well publicized comments from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the new Port-of-Spain administration does not appear to be as CARICOM-friendly as Patrick Manning’s. So, Bajans, beware.
The absence of a fishing agreement and the assurance from the coastguard to respond to Barbadians fishing in Tobago waters exposes our fishermen to imminent interdiction. We hope that an urgent Trinidad and Tobago/Barbados caucus can bring a conclusion to this long-standing contretemps.
Passing of a Caribbean icon
For those of us with an interest in broadcasting, journalism or communications, news of the imminent closure of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Caribbean Service came as a mild surprise. It follows major cuts in funding for the BBC’s World Service.
For decades the BBC has set unmatched standards as a global radio and TV icon. Whereas TV is funded by licence fees, the World Service is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has been a vital part of Britain’s colonial and post-colonial architecture promoting its commerce and culture.
Now that British global influence is in decline and it has to face up to a seriously eroded domestic economy, it is understandable that there would be a shift of interest. It will be instructive if one of the emerging international tigers moves to assist a regional broadcaster to fill the vacuum.
I have noted that without fanfare, last year the World Service set up a relay station in Barbados broadcasting 24 hours a day on 92.1 FM. Its coverage of world affairs is superb. I am addicted to the Caribbean Service five- and 15-minute news bulletins at 7:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. on weekdays.
It is a conundrum at which I marvel that a group of Caribbean broadcasters 4 000 miles away in London can bring listeners balanced, high-quality regional news far superior to anything emanating from any entity within the archipelago. It will be solely missed and is another blow to regional togetherness.
As we wait to see what emerges to fill the pan-Caribbean news vacuum, the former colonizer will understand that the intrinsic message of opening a World Service relay in Barbados and other CARICOM states months before closing the dedicated regional service is not lost on the formerly colonized.