16 May 2010 – By Chris Harris. The recent published report on the Jamaican proposals to export fish from Belize, and subsequent radio interviews, were very much one-sided, incorrect and misleading.
Having failed in their attempt effectively to muscle in on Belize’s commercial fishing, the Jamaicans now claim they are not interested in fishing, just processing and exporting fish from Belize.
The government should be congratulated on its swift response to the original proposal by saying a firm NO to Jamaican vessels fishing in our waters. They should be further congratulated on having thus far refused to grant an export license for this new version of the proposal. Make no mistake: it’s the same people trying to gain access to our fish stocks by another route.
From the government’s perspective it’s a difficult situation. The country desperately needs foreign exchange, desperately needs job growth, but is rightfully mindful of the health of the marine environment with its major implications for both our tourist industry, but much more importantly, for our ability as a nation to feed ourselves in the light of the imminent global food crisis.
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