SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – Barbadian boat captain Ricardo Elliott has been given until Friday to pay a court fine of TT$5 000 (US$833) or serve four months in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of fishing illegally in Tobago waters.
The court was told that the 37-year-old Elliott and another fisherman had been observed fishing in the Tobago waters last Thursday by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
Their vessel Pride and Joy was stopped and searched and a quantity of fish, including 14 flying fish, was found. The catch was confiscated and will be distributed to a charitable organisation in Tobago.
Earlier this month, Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM Robert “Bobby” Morris told the Nation in a recent interview that by the time the next fishing season begins in another three months, a protocol should be in place to ensure Barbadian fishermen are treated “in a humane” way if they enter Trinidad and Tobago waters.
Morris said the document will be “installment one” before a fishing agreement is completed.
A draft submitted by Barbados is currently being evaluated by the government of the twin-island republic and Morris said a response should be forthcoming soon.
The last fishing agreement between the two countries expired in the early 1990’s. (CMC)
