By: Nyima Sillah
The Public Relations Officer of The Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Association, Omar Gaye, has expressed dismay over the recently concluded boat distribution exercise of the Ministry of Fisheries & Water Resources (MoFWR).
“During the presidential tour, Barrow made a promise that he would manufacture fishing boats for Gambian youths to encourage them in getting into the fishing industry which we appreciated and applauded him as this will contribute to national development, create employment, and minimize fish scarcity, but just a week ago, the Ministry of Fisheries did the distribution of these boats without consulting the association of artisanal fishing,” Gaye told The Voice.
He emphasized that the boats were twenty, fifteen for coastal, and five for provinces but that the manner the distribution was done was unfair as the artisanal fishing association responsible for fishing was not consulted before the distribution and they are the right people to take part in the distribution.
The artisanal fisheries association mouth piece hinted that the Ministry could have at least consulted them before giving out the boats to identify the right persons that can handle the boat, even though they might not be in a position to change their distribution decision but they should have consulted them to avoid history repeating itself by giving out boats, less than one year, all got damaged.
He pointed out that the boats were given to Alkalosin Kartong, Gunjur, Tanji, Sanyang, and Brufut but other fishing areas don’t have, adding that a lot of people in other villages called him to inquire about the boat distribution as they were not included.
“Villages like Banjul, Jeshwang, Bakau, even Barra. They all called to ask but I couldn’t explain as the Ministry didn’t deal with the association of fisheries, they deal with Alkalos. The Alkalos might not know the right fishermen that can handle these boats instead they might just give it to the fishermen in their communities. The boats should be in the safe hands of people who know how to handle it, and also make another boat out from it in their operations. If the boats are given to the wrong people, it will take the industry backward,” he explained.
