A San Fernando fisherman claimed on Wednesday he lost $60,000 worth of nets after they were cut and destroyed by the water taxis transporting passengers to and from King’s Wharf, San Fernando.
Steven Taylor, 53, said the first incident occurred two months ago, and again on Wednesday.
Taylor, who said he has been a fisherman for 38 years, told the Express: The water taxi drivers do not seem to have respect for the fishermen. I tried to signal the driver that my net was in the water, but he still drove through it.
In a response on Wednesday, Dr Carson Charles, head of the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco), which manages the water taxi service, said there were maritime guidelines which fishermen have been asked to observe when they are fishing, but some of them do not.
He may have been fishing in the stream where the taxis are passing, where he shouldn’t be. There were notices given, he is actually breaking the rules by being out there. The guidelines for fishing areas are well publicised by the Maritime Services Division (MSD). The channel that the water taxi service uses has been authorised by the MSD, said Charles.
Taylor said even though fishermen set their nets in one area, the tides push them several kilometres away from their original spot.
Last time we started off in La Brea and we got pushed up all the way to Pointe-a-Pierre. We cannot stop the tides. But if a water taxi is coming through, at least he should slow down for fishermen to get their nets out of the way. But as it is, if you are in the way, we can end up losing our lives, said Taylor.
The fisherman said when his net was cut two months ago, he reported the incident to Nidco in San Fernando and was advised to submit an estimate on the damage caused.
He said he submitted the document, but was never again contacted by Nidco.
Charles said Nidco tries to accommodate applications for compensation following damage to property caused by the water taxis.
Nidco does attempt to compensate people for their losses, even in areas where they are not supposed to be. Nidco is prepared to listen to those seeking compensation.
Charles said he would relay Taylor’s case to Nidco’s director of the water taxi service, Sharon Taylor.
One Caribbean