Parliamentary Representative for St James North, Rawle Eastmond, has been named patron of the fisherfolk of Weston, St James.This honour was unanimously conferred on Eastmond on Sunday night during an awards ceremony for the fisherfolk at the Weston Resource Centre, St James.In addition, it was suggested that the fishing facility at Weston, St James, should be renamed the Millicent Ifill Facility in honour of the 96-year-old fish vendor who has been involved in the industry for the past 75 years.In response to the suggestion that the facility be renamed in honour of Ifill, Eastmond promised the gathering that he would approach the authorities as soon as possible with a view to making the suggestion a reality.The St James North MP noted that at her ripe old age, Ifill “operates on a daily basis in the facility; is alert; is highly regarded and is a well known producer of shark oil”.Earlier, Eastmond made reference to future possibilities if Barbados’ fishermen could make use of Barbados’ Exclusive Economic Zone.He lamented the fact that fishermen from Korea and Japan had been encroaching on Barbados’ Exclusive Economic Zone and had therefore been unfairly exploiting local resources.He urged the gathering of fisherfolk and friends to “look ahead by acquiring craft which would be able to go further offshore and get greater catches out of our Exclusive Economic Zone”.The MP suggested that the fisherfolk of Weston should form a co-operative in an attempt to face the challenges of the future.Eastmond commended the fisherfolk of Weston for the progressive step they took some years ago in joining the National Insurance Scheme as self-employed people.He recalled that at an earlier period the fisherfolk of Weston sold their catch in the open-air as they lacked proper facilities.Eastmond noted that with the construction of the new facilities there were provisions for ice, proper fish slabs and sanitary facilities.Eastmond, a former Minister of Agriculture in the Owen Arthur administration, praised the efforts of the Fisheries Department and encouraged the fisherfolk to continue working in harmony with that division.Joyce Leslie of the Fisheries Division was in attendance, as well as the Parish Ambassadors of St James for this year.
(WG)
