Jamaican fishing boats still in PG harbor

Wil Maheia

Five Jamaican fishing vessels sailed across the seas to set up a fishing venture in Punta Gorda in December 2009. It caused controversy with the residents in southern Belize and among environmentalists when word got out that the foreign vessels were loaded with deep fishing gear and traps.  They were ready to get started but they had not secured a license. All they had was an agreement with the Rio Grande Cooperative of Punta Gorda ostensibly to catch fish not usually sought by the local fishing community but they got into trouble because of concerns of over fishing. The last time we heard of the Jamaicans they were headed back to St. Ann’s Bay in Jamaica. But according to local P.G. politician Wil Maheia, only one boat headed back to sea and the Jamaicans are still proceeding with development plans.

Wil Maheia, Rep., People’s National Party

“If you were told that they left, they are lying to the Belizean people once again because if you go to P.G. right now. There are the Jamaican boats, there are the Jamaicans and they are continuing to build infrastructure to basically allow them to rape our resources. So again, Belizeans, we must stand up against that. Jamaica is a country, an island with sea all around them. If they can deplete their fish what do you think they will do to Belize that only has sea in front of us.”

Jose Sanchez

“This is the first set of Jamaicans that came?”

Wil Maheia

“This is the first set that has arrived and we understand that they have them in Mango Creek as well.”

Another vessel in the southern waters, the Great Escape, has not been removed from the sea since it ran aground in the reef on November thirtieth. Soon after the incident, the owner of the US Virgin Island registered vessel headed to Guatemala for medical attention.