Fisheries Senator meets with Calliste Fishers and Divers Co-operative

 

Senator for Agriculture and Fisheries, Roderick St Clair recently meet with members of the Calliste Fishers and Divers Co-operative to share his vision and obtain feedback from the members on their operations and issues. 

The fishers and divers are interested in revamping their organisation, and to be able to provide more services and support to their members especially those who may fall sick or are unable to ply their trade. A burning issue for the organisation is having a place from which to operate and to provide marketing connections for their products.

Another key issue for the fishers and divers is the security of their boats and the condition of the Calliste Bay where they operated from at one time. 

The members were high in praise for the recent support and partnership which they developed with the St George’s University (SGU) where they can now store their boats securely and use the bathroom and shower amenities provided by the university. Having divers amongst the membership, the issue of the managing and reducing the impact of the bends on the divers was also discussed. The membership expressed their interest in routine visits from Fisheries Officers to improve access to services from the ministry. 

Senator St Clair informed the membership that he held a preliminary meeting with the Minister for Fisheries, Honourable Yolande Bain-Horsford and will bring these concerns to her attention for action. He pledged to have a follow up session with the Calliste members, and will be having similar sessions with other groups and clusters throughout the country in the coming weeks.