The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday cheered steps taken by the “Fishing For a Future Project” to develop disadvantaged youth into capable seamen.

According to Mr Gray, despite its funding woes, the project illustrates the potential for the Bahamas to diversify its economy while allowing for more employment opportunities for Bahamian youth.

“Fishing For a Future Project” is a subsidiary of the Round One Bahamas programme and the Sustainable Fisheries Development Group.

Project Director, Peter Gilcud indicated that at present, there is a need for 450 “serviceable fishermen” within the industry to curb the Bahamas’ dependency on foreign fishermen.

The project, which commenced this past January, has already assisted roughly 80 youth and maintaining a core group of 57. The project aims to produce 1000 future fishermen.

Mr Gilcud said: “Earlier on, there was a lot of talk about Bahamians not wanting to go in to fishing and you have non-Bahamians on fishing boats.”

“I do not believe now, nor will I ever believe Bahamians don’t want to go on the sea,” he added, “as a consequence of that, we met with a segment of the industry who put themselves together as the Sustainable Fisheries Development Group”

To that end, Mr Gray indicated that the need for these types of programmes throughout the country remains clear.

The MICAL MP said: “The Bahamas government intends to be a partner in this programme. The extent of that involvement I cannot tell you today, but I will seek financial assistance from the government so as to assist these young people in this training exercise.”

“I am going to be talking to the Cabinet on this beginning tomorrow and hopefully by the week after or the week after that, we will be able to announce the extent to which the government is able to provide some financing for this programme.

“But I can assure you, the beginning of this speech, I will not allow the government to take an out on this,” he said.

Meanwhile, seven of the project’s top participants have already been selected to work along with three fishing vessels during the upcoming commercial fishing season which gets underway later this week.

“It is really to the credit to Mr Gilcud and the boat owners and operators that this designation and the training thus far have taken place with no help from the government,” said Mr Gray.

“It is a programme that I think the country needs and I do not believe the government will not support the programme. So, I am looking forward with great anticipation to the government’s contribution to this exciting programme.