GOVERNMENT  PRESS  SECRETARY

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

 

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PRESS RELEASE 302/2004

 

 

 

AGRICULTURE MINISTER GEORGE URGES FISHERMEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF JAPANESE FUNDED FISHERIES COMPLEX

 

 

 

Roseau, Dominica – December 6th 2004……Ten years after it was first conceptualized, the people of Marigot and the surrounding areas now have an ultra modern Fish Landing Facility on their doorstep. The estimated cost of the project was $38 million, of which the Japanese Government contributed a grant of $33 million and the Government of Dominica contributed $5 million.

 

Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Members of Cabinet, Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency, Mr. Shigenobu Kato, were some of the speakers present for the official opening of the Marigot Fisheries Complex in Marigot last week.

 

In his address at the ceremony, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment, Hon. Ambrose George, urged fishers in the catchment area of Woodford Hill to Carib Territory to give serious consideration to taking on the challenge of making fishing a full-time occupation.

 

The Fisheries Minister added: “This facility demands that we move from an average of two and a half days to five days fishing per week…”

 

Mr. George also used the opportunity to make a special appeal to financial institutions, particularly the Marigot Cooperative Credit Union, urging them to revisit their credit policies and ensure that their lending programmes are “sensitive to the emerging needs of our fisher folks vis-a-vis this new Marigot Fisheries Facility and the potential opportunities therein”.

 

Meanwhile Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit expressed profuse thanks to the Government and people of Japan for funding the project. The Prime Minister also told the Japanese Ambassador he wanted to see the timely implementation of the Portsmouth Fisheries Complex.

 

The concept to build a Fisheries Complex at Marigot was born in the early 1990s. In 1995, a decision was taken to go ahead with the Marigot Fisheries Complex and negotiations between the two governments began in 1997. The final designs were completed and accepted in March 2001.

 

In May 2002, the Governments of Japan and Dominica signed an Exchange of Notes which signaled the commencement of work on the Marigot Fish Landing Project. The project construction period was seventeen months and started on May 15th 2003 and was completed on September 30th 2004.

 

The project consists of: the Administrative Building, with fish market and storage facility; Sea Defence; Mooring and Landing; fishermen locker rooms and restrooms; fully equipped mechanic shop, boat repair shop and slipway.