The Member of Parliament for Couva North, Ravi Ratiram, is again calling on the Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds to establish a T&T Coast Guard base at the Carli Bay Fishing Facility.
The appeal comes after two fishing vessels were set ablaze early Monday morning.
MP Ratiram said around 4:00 am, the two vessels owned by Naresh Popal and Wayne Ali were set on fire at the Carli Bay fishing facility.
The release said this attack comes months after a series of similar arson attacks in April 2021 when MP Ratiram pleaded with Minister Hinds to take measures to protect the fishermen and their assets.
Following that incident, MP Ratiram met with Minister Hinds together with President of the Carli Bay Fishing Association, Imitaz Khan, President of the Claxton Bay Fishing Association, Necolson Seecharan, as well as representatives of the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard and the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service Coastal and Riverine Unit.
At that meeting, MP Ratiram presented several recommendations for the Carli Bay Fishing Facility including the establishment of a TTCG/TTPS base, installation of CCTV cameras, the construction of a security booth and improving the lighting at the facility.
MP Ratiram said despite the Minister giving his commitment to assist, it is disheartening that the struggles of these fishermen continue to be ignored by the Government.
MP Ratiram said it is unacceptable that almost one year later, nothing has been done to increase the security of these fishermen at the Carli Bay facility.
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