Fishing Village warns off non-registered sellers

Fisherfolk at the newly built Portmore Fishing Village are warning that they will not tolerate illegal vending.

Marva Lynch, a representative of the Causeway Fisherfolk Friendly Society, said: "We will not allow anyone that was not registered in our organisation to work at the fishing village. That will not happen," Lynch told the PORTMORE STAR.

Still, there are concerns among the 110 fishermen and about 34 vendors who ply their trade at the facility that outsiders will target the fishing village and rob sale from the registered fisherfolk. The facility was officially open for business late last year.

The management and operation of the fishing village are being undertaken by a committee comprising representatives of the Portmore Municipality, the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and fisherfolk.

The facility costs over $150 million to build, while another $72 million was spent for dredging, landscaping and creating a beach.

M&M Jamaica Limited, a locally-based construction company, was the main contractor for the project which was financed and implemented by the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROOC).

On Friday, October 30, the facility was opened by Minister of Transportation and Works, Mike Henry, alongside, Ivan Anderson, CEO of NROOC, Donald Mullings managing director of M&M Jamaica Limited, Mayor of Portmore Keith Hinds and Lynch.

The fisherfolk usually operated along the Portmore Causeway, but with the advent of Highway 2000, coming into Portmore, business slowed for the fisherfolk and the need arose to relocate them. The facility, a state-of-the-art complex, have cubicles for fishermen, equipment, work area for fish vendors, accommodation for security personnel and a restaurant.