Turnbull blasts authorities who are targeting fishers
Yet another legislator has criticised local legislation that governs fishing, saying it makes no sense and does not benefit fisherfolk who serve the community.
The law that governs fishers is the Food Security & Sustainability Act (2022) which outlines a number of measures to improve fishing and farming locally.
But Natural Resources Minister Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull said aspects of the law are being enforced aggressively and are unfair to fisherfolk.
He said authorities have been insisting that each fisher must have their own boat because each fishing license is tied to a vessel. Turnbull said this prevents fishers from assisting their colleagues who may not have a boat. The minister said it also goes against the culture of cooperation fisherfolk share in the territory.
“You cannot tell me that a license is tied to a vessel and not a person. There is an unspoken language of cooperation among fisherfolk in this territory so if my boat is down or your boat is down, we have to earn a living. That’s all they do,” Turnbull explained.
He added that the authorities unfairly target local fishers but aren’t enforcing laws against people from other countries that illegally use the BVI’s waters.
Turnbull also said local fishers need to be protected because they have been supplying the community with food even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We need to address these things. We can’t have all this water and not protect our fisherfolk. We just need to make it make sense. And right now it’s not making sense,” Turnbull said.
His comments come just weeks after Territorial At-Large Representative, Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith highlighted the plight of local fishers, saying they are not benefitting from many of the improvements the law was supposed to bring them.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Ok power hungry tantrum thrower. Where is PVIM? We have heard nothing from this organization at all. You got the power you were dying for so you good now. Good job Pastor.
Why he didn’t buy them a boat instead of wasting tax payers money flying to Egypt.
This is unbelievable. Mitch, WHO THE HELL PASSED THE LEGISLATION? WOW!!! This is what happens when you have clueless people responsible for passing and upholding the laws of the land. If you guys would take your time in the HOA and go through legislation properly, have healthy debates etc. before pushing them through, this type of shit won’t happen. You are here basically asking government departments not to follow the law that your own government passed because it’s having an impact on people. Law is LAW, if the law needs to be changed then change it. This is exactly why we had a COI in the first place. And you guys want independence?
Where was Turnbull when the bill got passed in the HOA??
If he is the minister for fishing then why doesn’t he amend the law and fix what the concern is now. That is only sense.
The laws were written this way so that people like you wouldn’t be able to give out licenses willie-nillie to your friends. If it was up to you, every Tom,Dick and Harry will be fishing as they please. I know that it isn’t a local fisherman that you have interest in looking out for.
He is a victimizer we will never forget what he did the Labour commissioner
Mitch. you got to go. 2nd district has fired you. Enjoy your last days
This is one of the reasons I say we need to join the USVI. In the USVI, the senators actually read the laws that they pass and seem to be able to comprehend what they are passing. In the BVI they don’t read and apparently, when they do, apparently they can’t comprehend what is written, so might as well they didn’t read it. The UK is just as bad as these HOA members because they see this nonsense continuing and do absolutely nothing!
All this guy does is l** and through around blame. His time is up.
The law was passed way before his time
It’s a shame…because in principle Laws should be a useful tool to regulate and hopefully stimulate such important sectors as Agriculture and Fisheries….But sadly we have a arrived at a point where the elected officials passing the Laws are so far detached (2 generations) from the knowledge , skills and energy required for these sectors to operate successfully -so they had to rely on a highly paid foreign consultant to write the Laws for us . The gentleman in question didn’t have time to analyze the subtleties of our predicament and so he pretty much copied and pasted legislation from the Windward islands…where the Agriculture and Fisheries sectors have very different needs to the BVI.
The Food Security and Sustainability Act needs to be put in a dusty little box some place and forgotten about. It was a misguided effort and a waste of time and money. The real needs of these sectors need to be addressed with a comprehensive review of the Local Food Supply, processes and practitioners, only then can we begin to chart a way forward. To start with the Govt needs to admit to its failings and come forward with the formation of an empowered Think Tank of knowledgeable sector personalities – and yes even some out side experts (!) to bring the issues to the Ministers and the People for open discussion. Only then a strategic plan based on Regenerative principles can be made.
The urgency grows every day….
Honorable, please fix this issue so that the Virgin Islands can be the beneficiaries of these waters. I see a man sit in his boat anchor in the corner of the sea shore only to be told that he has to be registered vessel to fish. I am not sure what happens to the people who fish on the docks around the island, should them now have fishing license? It beholds me, how we are to love our neighbors.
There is equal to more corruption in the USVI and USA as they claim there is here in the VI.
Meaning, there is abject corruption wherever there are people, money, goods and commodities, period.
Corruption was old long before the BVI came on the scene. BVI is a new comer. Nonetheless, corruption is bad, but it will never be rooted out of mankind dealings as long as mankind exist..
You doing the captain bad in the bvi with all the white boy captain for charter the local captain dead not good bro.
Why mitch don’t focus on fixing his district? Especially the roads in CGB,Brewers,Diamond,Meyers,JVD to name a few which are a disgrace to both locals and visitors alike. All he do is travel around the world and criticise instead of focusing on the real issues that are affecting the people of his 2nd district.
The law is dated 2022. U need to read bruh
Crab in bucket mentality. Do as the Leader says or go home. It’s time for all Representatives stand up and work for the Territory. Stop biting tongue and lips to avoid backlash from Members of the House or Party Affiliation.