The All Tobago Fisherfolk Association is again calling for compensation for fisherfolk whose livelihoods were affected by the February 7th 2024 oil spill in Tobago. On Monday, the Association’s President joined Lambeau fishermen who said the Tobago House of Assembly has been making empty promises.
Just over one year since an unprecedented oil spill affected the lives of many of the island’s fisherfolk; they are claiming no support has been received from the Tobago House of Assembly. While the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association received millions for works done during the clean up exercise; the ATFA’s President said compensation for the affected fishermen remains outstanding.
“The Honourable Chief Secretary came publicly and said to the fisherfolk he is going to fix them and bring them back to their right state but a year into it he then come now and quoting ITOF which is an outside agency which is playing politics with the Tobago lives. He is putting up his hand and saying fishermen lying and fishermen have to go to ITOF. ITOF is not running the THA”
President of the Lambeau Fisherfolk Association Sumattee Ramkissoon lamented that she and many other fishermen experienced significant loss. She called on the Chief Secretary Augustine to stand by his word.
“We had a timeline I had to run here run by fishermen run and get BIR number and nothing aint do. A thousand dollar we still living on we have to be here a whole year we begging right we begging for everything. My two boat that use I want to take alyuh and show. The boat damage.”
Another fisherman Edwin Ramkissoon said he has recorded thousands in losses.
“I lost everything in my boat. My cooler, my line, my engine even damaged. I had to let the mechanic sort it out. All them thing there. I even borrow money to buy back fishing gears from a partner….. When you check up everything that lost in the boat it is like sixty thousand.”
At a press conference in January, Chief Secretary Augustine indicated that representatives would meet with the fishermen to offer support in completing their forms to be sent to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds office.. However, the fisherfolk stated this has not taken place.
TTT News
