Fish vendors in Alligator Pond seek gov't support amid slow sales

By Kimone Witter    

 

Fish vendors in Alligator Pond, south Manchester are seeking government support amid slow sales after the fishing village and surrounding communities were dealt a devastating blow by Hurricane Beryl.

 

The vendors are also appealing for Jamaicans outside of the community to make purchases as they try to get back on their feet.

 

The vendors say they had to dispose of hundreds of pounds of fish in the days after the storm and the situation has not improved as sections of the community are still without electricity.

 

During a visit to the fishing village on Thursday, they related having to pay exorbitant prices for ice to keep their fish fresh.

 

Others whose power has been restored are under pressure from fishermen - who themselves incurred heavy losses - to pay for fish taken on consignment before the storm. 

 

"Right now, we in debt, we affi a ask dem fi tek wi time fi pay. Sometime even up a di yard dem come and a call you same way a tell you seh dem give you dem goods and dem want dem money. And it's really hard. Mi really a look a help back towards my business," said Shay, a fish vendor in Alligator Pond. 

 

Meanwhile, residents of Coast Road, who are yet to have their electricity restored, are not optimistic about that happening by Monday.

 

The Jamaica Public Service Company has announced that it is on track to meet its August 12 deadline for full restoration of electricity to customers in all parishes, except St. Elizabeth.

 

At the same time, Omar Robinson, Councillor for the Alligator Pond Division, has called for a speeding up of the pace of assessment for people in Alligator Pond who suffered structural damage during the hurricane.

 

Councillor Robinson said teams from the Social Development Commission and Ministry of Labour and Social Security have visited with some of the residents. 

 

He urged the authorities to quickly complete the assessment so that residents can get the necessary assistance and return to normality.