One resident has appealed for a fisherman's dock at Carrot Bay while claiming that many fishermen have been injured while bringing their catch ashore among the rocks on the shoreline. Photo:VINO/File

Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton assured that the project for the fisherman's dock was being spearheaded by Hon. Archibald C. Christian. Photo:VINO

“We have a serious problem here in Carrot Bay with the fishermen,” the resident said, “the fishermen need a dock in this place…” He disclosed that fishermen suffer injuries when fish has to be brought in “on the rocks”. According to the resident, persons fall and have broken limbs as a result of the precarious situation.

“The ramp that we have down there, it needs engineering,” he added. The man disclosed that the area was covered with a lot of moss and persons coming to buy fish at the location where it is brought in also suffer broken limbs as well.

“It really, really, really needs tending to,” the man urged government ministers within earshot, “right now they have major brown sea down there and the water is coming all up in the road.”

He also disclosed that a few months ago, the sea came up so bad that it went straight through his place.

He cautioned that when government sends officials to deal with the issues, they first consult with residents of the area, “we’re not engineers but we have a lot of local knowledge of how the water runs… when you all send the engineers down to check out the dock and the ramp, I would like for them to contact some of us that live in the area who know exactly how the current runs and what not… we really, really, really need it as soon as possible.”

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering agreed that the issue was a topical one and assured the resident that Government was working diligently to remedy the situation.

He explained that the At-Large Representatives were taking the issue on as a project and passed the baton to the Health Minister, who he related was spearheading the project.

Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton related that discussions were held with a few of the fishermen in Carrot Bay when the administration first took office. According to the Health Minister, there is a design for a floating dock that sits on the embankment and goes out to sea, “all we were waiting on is our boss to give us the money to go ahead and I think now that you have spoken, he will realise that you guys are serious about it…”

Hon. Skelton then stated that Territorial At-Large Representative Hon. Archibald C. Christian will now be spearheading the project. The designs, he explained, will be brought to the residents for consultation and recommendations and changes will be taken into account afterwards.

“That will be done as soon as Hon. Christian can get it to you,” the Health Minister stated.