Fishing co-op sues boardwalk developer
The proposed boardwalk along the northern bank of the Haulover Creek has created its fair share of legal controversy. Tonight News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports on the latest case against the infrastructural development.
Charles Heusner, Chair, National Fishermen Cooperative
“Finally our members are earning a decent living, you know. We are up to a certain level and I don’t think we should jeopardise that, really.”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
The members of the National Fishermen Producers Cooperative Society Limited have major beef with the investors of the Brown Sugar Marketplace. The trouble started last October when the company’s construction crews drove a number of piles into the riverbed directly in front of the cooperative’s receiving plant. Brown Sugar had the necessary permits from the City Council and the Department of Environment, but the fishermen say the posts interfere with their operations and violate their rights.
Charles Heusner
“Because of the position of the piles, in the rough weather it cause a lot of damage to the boat upper structures and you know, and the boats they–”
Janelle Chanona
“And dah mostly sailboats you deal with?”
Charles Heusner
“Yes, yes. Ah ha. And they nevah design fu di bump gainst cement so it cause quite a lot of damage to the sailboats. So we just deh try and see how best we could work out something, but Brown Sugar no wah budge so we just have to settle this through the courts.”
The matter landed before Justice Samuel Awich on Thursday morning. In presenting his case yesterday and this morning, Rodwell Williams called seven veteran members of the cooperative to the stand. The fishermen testified that they have suffered financial losses because the piles prevent the safe use of the cooperative’s dock when they offload their catch, forcing them to sell their produce to third parties for a cheaper price. They are asking the court to order the piles permanently removed.
Charles Heusner
“We sort of proposed that Brown Sugar Limited put in like an overpass so that their tourist traffic does not affect our business but it seems like they do not want to go along with that. They just want to go along with what their permit stated and their permit is the problem, because the permit has given them a right to override on our riparian rights. This is something that we have been enjoying for the past forty-one years, so we just leave the matter with the courts to see if we can get a satisfactory outcome.”
Paul Hunt, Executive Consultant, Brown Sugar Marketplace
“The company is very optimistic that these problems can be overcome and in fact let me just say that before these proceedings there were very cordial informal exchanges between the two parties, so perhaps it’ll all emerge okay in the end.”
Brown Sugar’s executive consultant Paul Hunt believes there is room for everyone on the riverfront. Hunt says if given the chance, the boardwalk could transform the cooperative into a tourist site.
Paul Hunt
“If the fishermen’s cooperative can see that perspective, certainly it would be a very attractive component. We’ve all heard of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, it’s a destination, it’s a very attractive thing to go visit. So depending on the fishermen’s perspective and they certainly have their own perspective, there are components that could be valuable to them. Quite rightly their view is I suppose is that they want to go on fishing and they don’t have as much interest in tourism.”
Janelle Chanona
“Is there a plan B to your project if the court rules against you on this issue?”
Paul Hunt
“I think that Brown Sugar is taking things day by day and case by case and I think at this stage, I suppose all options are open.”
Brown Sugar is being represented by attorney Samira Musa Pott. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
When the case resumes Samira Musa Pott will present her defence maintaining that had the fishermen not sought an injunction against construction, the boardwalk would be complete and most of their problems solved.
