Penn renews push for East End fishing depot
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has renewed calls for the government to establish a fishing depot in the Eighth District, arguing that the facility would strengthen the local fishing industry, improve food security and allow fishermen to maximise their catch.
Penn made the appeal while reflecting on the success of the second annual David “Tiger” Smith Fishing Tournament, which was held in the East End Long Look community. He said the event was revived to preserve a longstanding tradition in a district with deep ties to the fishing industry.
“We as a community chose to revive this event because it is something that is literally part of our heritage,” Penn told ZBVI News.
He noted that generations of residents have depended on fishing and said the tournament demonstrates the community’s commitment to preserving that legacy. According to Penn, the competition also highlighted the industry’s economic potential. Despite challenging sea conditions over two days, participants landed more than 1,000 pounds of fish.
“It shows that there’s tremendous potential for fishing as an industry in the Virgin Islands,” Penn stated.
Greater government support needed
Penn argued that local fishermen require greater government support through investment, equipment and financial assistance to expand the sector. “All the fishermen need is the requisite tools, they need the support, and they need the financial backing from the government,” Penn said.
He also described fishing as an important contributor to the territory’s food security, saying the Virgin Islands has abundant fishing grounds that could sustain a stronger local industry if properly supported. The Opposition Leader said his long-standing proposal for a fishing depot in the East End community remains a priority because it would improve the efficiency of commercial fishing operations.
“Most of the fish that you see sold around the streets are caught right there by the fishermen in that community,” Penn said.
He explained that a depot would allow fishermen to offload their catch before returning to sea while the fish are actively running, rather than spending valuable fishing time selling it themselves. Penn said the government has discussed the project for several years, but it has yet to materialise. He criticised the government’s plans to establish a depot at Paraquita Bay and at Baughers Bay, where he said it was destroyed previously.
Calls to establish a modern fishing facility in the East End area are not new. Penn has promoted the idea for several years, previously advocating for a modern fishing depot and cooperative to help expand markets, improve infrastructure and develop fisheries into a larger economic sector for the territory.
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After all that is/has been going on and done; a freakin fisherman dock you come back with again!?!
Dude you just LESS!!!!
Hoping the district retire you like they did the Cuban. You have worked in such a long time that it’s high time you find a new J O B!
This is a great idea , all agriculture and fishing needs to be subsidized under the food security act .
Did nothing for the past 16 years
Have you asked him why nothing wasn’t done? Perhaps we should ask him and then ask those who held ministries what happened. Wasn’t he the same one who told the Leader for the new PLM to put the sewerage money for the EE/LL sewerage project back, after they had already pushed for the money to be moved to build pier park and that still needs a proper audit.
With the gas lighting and the fast talking. Not a damn thing is going to happen. The serious fishermen may as well fundraise and build their own fishing depot. At least the Government would not be involved or have hands in anything.
Astonishing suggestion!! Businessmen build their own infrastructure? Pay for it thmeselves? You crazy?
That is a great idea because we all know that is just talk. Ot will never come to fruition anddd, if it happens it will be sub par like the goat shed they build up trellis bay or the beach stalls they put up about market place. Perhaps if Penn start using some ozempic to drop some of the extra weight he is carrying around he would be able to think a little better
not the ozempic flex 🙂
Penn himself needs a push! All this guy do is talk s**t all day. He has been elected since 2011 and cannot list one noteworthy accomplishment, not one. Now that he is the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of NDP the facade is over, he is now exposed as a do-nothing. This guy is not fit to lead even a chicken farm.
Marlon needs to be retired. He has done nothing for our district.
Use the freezers saved from the other Fishing Complex.
Rent a place. Hire four or five people and contract the fishermen to sell you the fish so at least we can say you did something for the district. Its about time. All the districts have community centers now, so our politicians cannot think of anything else they can do community. Waste of time.
The government built a multi million dollar pier for the fishermen at red bay . All the fishermen have to do is when they bring in their catch and blow the horn and we will come. They even don’t have to do that as Gary and those guys sells thousands of pounds of fish at fine foods parking lot every week . The new fisheries will be built in baughers bay before year end.
KNOW THESE SET AH WANNABES IS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTION AND TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK REAL / AND AT THE END OF DAY , THEY ALL ARE JUST GOING ALONG FOR THE R I D E ON TAXPAYERS MONEY • WHILE SINGING ” WE ARE THE ENTITLED ONES ” •