Modern fuel facility for Gouyave fisheries complex

Modern fuel facility for Gouyave fisheries complex

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Details: Parent Category: Dec 2011; Category: Week ending Dec 10th, 2011; Published on Monday, 19 December 2011 16:30; Hits: 335

The fishing community of Gouyave, St. John’s can look forward to having the services of a fuel station at its newly opened fish market in the New Year. Word of this has come from Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Dennis Lett who was at the time delivering the feature address at the official handing over ceremony of the $34 million dollar Japanese-funded fish market project.

Minister Lett disclosed that the three-year old Government of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is interested in ensuring that the new fish market is completed with a modern fuel facility.

He announced that government is currently engaged with the St. John’s Fishermen Association and fuel supplier, Texaco to construct a top class fuel facility on the site of the fish market.

The senior government minister said this will involve the construction of a storage vault to accommodate the fuel tanks and placement of dispensers along the jetty from which fishermen can refuel their boats.

The Government of Japan provided $33.4 million towards the project, while the Government of Grenada contributed $0.6 as counterpart funding.

Minister Lett expressed government’s gratitude to Japan for making that huge investment in the infrastructure of the local fisheries sector.

The Minister also spoke of government’s commitment to the continued development of the fisheries sector and recognized Gouyave as the main fishing village in the country.

According to Minister Lett, this is evident by the large number of fishermen and the quality of the catch from that community.

“Over the years, Gouyave fishing community has demonstrated that fishing is critical to the success and the livelihood,” he said.

Minister Lett stressed that with the new fisheries complex at Gouyave, Government expects that the facility will enhance the competitiveness of the fishing sector in many ways.

He noted that as an exporter of fish to North America and Europe, Grenada is expected to observe very strict standards for fish handling.

The Fisheries Minister said this involves having boats that observe hygienic standards and having proper facilities to ensure quality fish is landed at all times.

He believes the new facility at Gouyave will allow the fishing sector to ensure that Grenada meets the necessary requirements for fish both locally and abroad.

Minister Lett believes that the opening of the fish complex in St. John’s will now result in improved economic activity in Gouyave.

He said with more storage facility being available, the fishermen can catch more fish, which will see better financial returns for them.

Parliamentary Representative for the Constituency of St. John’s, former Energy Minister, Michael Church who also spoke at the ceremony praised the generosity of the Japanese Government by providing the parish with an invaluable fisheries asset.

The facility, he said now gives the residents of the parish an opportunity to change their lives socially and financially, and transform the economic base of St. John’s.

Church is confident that an opportunity now exists to rally the young people around the modern fisheries facility.

He said the young people now have an opportunity to see clearer the opportunities available to them and the relevance of becoming fisheries analysis, fish biologist, and fish quality insurance experts.

The Parliamentary Representative who serves as a Back Bencher for the government in Parliament implored the administration to ensure that the new facility serves the interest of the fishermen.

“It is, therefore, incumbent upon government to guarantee that the management and running of the facility be efficient and transparent, and serves the interest of the fisherman, his family and the community,” he told the gathering.

Church also saw the need for the old fish market to be converted into a fisheries interpretation centre as a means of creating a tourism attraction in the parish.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas who also addressed the function said his government takes serious its responsibility to create opportunities, and give the necessary support and assistance to the people in the country.

He pointed out that the Congress government would like to see the young people get more involved in training in different aspects of the fishing industry, which he referred to as the fastest growing sector in Grenada.

“The fishing industry is a very important industry for us, our food security, income generation, employment creation, what we have to do is to manage it properly,” he said.

Prime Minister Thomas admonished his countrymen to capitalise on the resources that come from the sea in light of the current economic and financial global crisis.

“When (you) look at what is happening in the world, we have to look within, and to get the maximum benefit from the resources we have,” he said.

The Grenadian Leader also spoke about the diplomatic relations Grenada enjoy with Japan, adding that the fisheries complex is symbolic of “the excellent relations that exists between Grenada and Japan.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged that both countries have something in common when it comes to human development.