Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

A ground breaking ceremony by the Governments of Dominica and Venezuela for what can be described as the first in a series of fuel service stations to be built across the island was held at San Sauveur on Wednesday, December 9, 2009. This new station, upon completion, is expected to make life much easier for the many fishermen of the area.

The Hon. Parliamentary Representative for the area said, while delivering brief remarks, that she foresee this, along with the completion of the Riviere Cyrique-Petite Soufriere Road as a means of opening up economic activity for the farmers of the area.

The fuel service station is expected to be directly linked to the fishermen eliminating the need to have to travel very long distances to get fuel for their boats when in need.

According to Her Excellency Carmen Martinez de Grijalva, Ambassador to Dominica from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, there are over ten fuel stations to be erected across the island of Dominica, bringing direct benefit to more than eighteen communities. These include Marigot, Woodford Hill, Toucarie, Tan-Tan, Portsmouth, Capuchin, Clifton, Batalie, Bioche, Colihaut, Dublanc, Newtown, Point Michel, Fond Colé, Potterville, Scott’s Head, Soufriere, St. Joseph, Salisbury, Mero and Layou. Ambassador Martinez disclosed that these fuel stations will bring cheaper fuel to the fishing sector hence lowering the cost of fishing for the fishermen.

“This is the beginning of the provision of fuel service stations for the supply of cheaper fuel for the fishing sector. In 2010, Venezuela and Dominica will start a cooperation programme for to provide training and construction of boats among others for the fishermen of Dominica.”

Acting Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry deputising on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Samuel Carette, spoke of his Ministry’s efforts to diversify the agricultural sector and to help boost the fishing sector.

“Over the past fifteen-twenty (15-20) years, we have seen a very rapid decline of the banana industry. Over the past few years, the Government has been trying to diversify the economy to ensure that we have more activities in the economy. This is so because we have reached a point where we believe that it is going to be very difficult to keep the banana industry going at the level at which it is over the next few years due to the changes within the European Union.

This change is expected to have great effects for our industry in the Windward Islands, especially our own country, Dominica. So, this is why over the past few years we have been trying very hard to ensure that there are other activities in the economy that will help to provide you with a better livelihood and a better quality of life.”

The Government of Dominica continues to work feverishly to help boost the island’s fishing sector which was severely affected last year after the passage of Hurricane Dean.