Fisherfolk cautiously optimistic as City ice supply resumes

Fisherfolk at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex were upbeat about early efforts to restore ice production at the facility, with some boats finally receiving supplies on Friday after weeks of disruption that crippled fishing activity and left dozens of vessels docked along the waterfront.

Several fishers at the market said Fisheries Minister Santia Bradshaw appeared to be making an effort to address the longstanding issue, though many remained guarded as problems with the ageing machines continue.

“The minister is trying with the promises that she made. Four boats were filled today,” said one former fishing boat owner, pointing to the small signs of movement returning to the complex after days of uncertainty.

Veteran fisherman Wade Gittens, who had earlier warned that roughly 70 boats were tied up because of the shortage, said there had finally been some progress.

“So far the ice machine has started delivering the ice… from yesterday evening,” he said.

He explained that workers were now hoping to gradually increase the number of vessels being supplied.

“The guys say they just want to start filling the ice bucket and deliver the ice to the boats on Monday. They don’t want just the one boat, two boats. They would like to deliver at least five or six boats.”

Fishermen were still waiting to see whether the repairs would hold up consistently after years of recurring breakdowns, Gittens said.

“The things I’ve been promising for all the years… they’re now stepping up… taking the action,” he said, while adding that many of the issues fishermen raised with officials were now finally receiving attention.

“What we mentioned they have on the drawing board right now,” Gittens said when asked whether more needed to be done.

The comments come days after growing frustration erupted at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, where fishermen complained that repeated failures with the facility’s ageing ice machines had brought sections of the industry to a standstill.

Captains and crew members had reported being unable to make regular fishing trips due to a lack of ice needed to preserve catches at sea. Some operators said they were forced to travel as far as Grenada to secure supplies.

One fisherman confirmed on Friday that he had recently made the trip overseas: “I had to go to Grenada in order to get ice.”

The shortage also affected fish vendors and consumers, with fishermen warning earlier this week that reduced catches were driving up fish prices across the island.

Although ice production has restarted, not everyone at the complex is convinced the crisis is over.

One longtime fisherman cautioned that it was still too soon to celebrate:

“It is still too early to tell, but give it a week and there may be an uproar from the fishermen.”

Minister Bradshaw had acknowledged during a visit to the complex earlier this week that ageing compressors and deteriorating equipment were behind the crisis. She said the government was pursuing wider upgrades to the facility while arranging temporary measures, including sourcing ice externally and providing assistance to fisherfolk.

For now, the fishers said they were watching the situation closely and hoping the improvements continue long enough to get more boats back out to sea.

 

(LE)