[UPDATED] Carenage fisherfolk seek $.5m for losses in fire

FISHERMEN in Carenage are seeking more than half a million dollars in compensation for a fire in 2015, said Carenage Fisherfolk Association president Robert Millington.

He was speaking with the media yesterday at the Carenage Fishing Centre.

He reported in 2006 the fishermen were given containers by the government to use as temporary facilities to house their equipment, but on September 16, 2015, a week after the general election, the containers burned down.

“From then to now, we have received no form of compensation from the Government pertaining to our losses. We followed all the necessary protocols, and up to this point in time they are failing to represent us.”

He said 30 fishermen were affected and the estimated total loss is $600,000. He added the circumstances of the fire were not determined, but the fishermen believe it was due to shoddy work on the electrical system in the containers. Millington said the affected fishermen included three senior members who had not yet been able to return their boats to the sea.

“We had those who lost engines in that fire, and where family maintenance is concerned (it) is nil.”

Fisherman Mark Peltier, who has been fishing since the 1950s, said he lost about $130,000 when his twin-engine boat was destroyed in the fire.

“I have my boat there and I was making some money. But things at a standstill and I living on my pension.”

Peltier added: “It is not an easy task, because men suffering. And like (the Prime Minister) not making any movements.”

Millington said Diego Martin West MP and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was written to five times on the issue – three times in his capacity as MP and twice as Prime Minister – “to no avail.” He said letters were also written to Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat and ministry Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Singh, also to no avail.

Millington said the hope was that an official would come and have a conversation about the issue.

“We know that our loving Prime Minister is always ready to have conversations. We need to have a conversation, and some kind of amicable settlement needs to take place.”

He said if there was no response from officials the plan was to seek legal recourse, and appealed to the legal fraternity for pro-bono services.

Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) political leader David Abdulah said the MSJ facilitated the media’s presence yesterday and the party was in support and solidarity with the fishermen.

“Wherever there is injustice, we will be there in the struggle with the people against that injustice. And this is clearly an injustice.”

Millington also said 20 fishermen whose boats were at the western end of the compound received notices from Udecott that the boats had to be moved. He added the association had not received a letter on the issue.

“But that is private people property. You can’t send no soldier and army to move people boat just so. Let us negotiate. Let us talk. You can’t just be no bully (sic).”

The notice from Udecott is dated July 3, and says the boats must be moved to complete a slipway for the Carenage Fish Fry.

Three calls from Newsday to Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat went to voicemail.

This story was originally published with the title "Fisherfolk want meeting on compensation" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

FISHERMEN in Carenage are seeking more than half a million in compensation following a fire for almost four years.

Carenage Fisherfolk Association president Robert Millington said this on Monday at the Carenage Fishing Centre.

He said since 2006 the association has been undergoing "strenuous times" under both the PNM and UNC administrations.

He reported the fishermen, in 2006, were placed in temporary containers by the Government to house their equipment, but one week after the 2015 general election, the containers were destroyed by fire.

"From then to now we have received no form of compensation from the Government pertaining to our losses. We followed the necessary protocol and up to this point in time they are failing to represent us."

He said 30 fishermen were affected by the fire, with an estimated total loss of $600,000. He added the circumstances of the fire were not determined but the fishermen believe it was due to shoddy work on the electrical system.

Millington said the affected fishermen included three senior members who are not yet able to return their boats to the sea.

"We had those who lost engines in that fire and where family maintenance is concerned (it) is nil."

He said the group wrote Diego Martin West MP and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley five times on the issue, thrice in his capacity as MP and twice as Prime Minister, "to no avail." He said they also wrote to Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat and ministry Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Singh but received no response.

Millington said they hope an official will meet them to discuss the issue.

"We know that our loving Prime Minister is always ready to have conservations. We need to have a conversation and some kind of amicable settlement needs to take place."