The Jamaica Fishermen's Co-operative is seeking the public's support in raising much needed funds to assist two Jamaican fisherman currently stranded in Cancun Mexico.
The two fishermen 26-year-old Joel Smith from Rocky Point in Clarendon and Anthony McFarlane of Savanna-la-mar went missing on January 21, after they went fishing.
They were rescued by Mexican authorities and brought ashore.
A third colleague reportedly fell ill and died.
Chairman of the Jamaica Fishermen's Co-operative Union Havelan Honeyghan says he spoke to both men via telephone on Friday and they are anxious to return home.
“They are still in the same clothes, they were picked up and admitted to hospital in the same clothes and they were transferred to a detention centre in the same clothes…..”
Mr. Honeyghan said he was in contact with officials of the Jamaican Embassy in Mexico who were in contact with the fishermen.
In the meantime the Fishermen's Co-operative Chairman says a joint effort has been undertaken to come up with the return airfare for the stranded men.
“The Jamaica Fishermen’s Cooperative Union and the Fisheries Division is trying to put together the funds for the men to come home, because their families are unable to come up with the money. I am appealing to Corporate Jamaica, the Government of Jamaica to alled concerned citizens help us get those two men out of Cancun Mexico, the fare is 160-thousand dollars for each of them. They are our own children, they were fishing to help feed this nation, hungry nation and I think they ought to be treated better than that” said Mr Honeyghan
And Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries G. Andre Kong, says his agency is currently hamstrung in its efforts to secure the fishermen's return
“The Foreign Affairs (Ministry) here had asked our Embassy in Mexico to provide some relief to the men , I mean some change of clothes and necessary essentials, food and various things like toothpaste. My understanding is that the Embassy in Mexico has provided that sort of relief assistance to the fishers”.
Mr. Kong said contrary to reports, he has been advised that a helping hand has been extended to the men.
He said as soon as the promised funding is identified the Ministry would move early next week to find additional monies to assist with the fishermen's return airfare.
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