Woe to Guyana if Chinese go into fishing - Businessman

Woe to Guyana if Chinese go into fishing – Businessman

Apr 30, 2015 News

Chinese have already made moves to get into the fishing industry, but while fishermen expressed concerns

Businessman, Jacob Rambarran

over that worrying attempt, local businessman, Jacob Rambarran has explicitly stated that Guyana would be in serious trouble if the Chinese enter the country’s fishing industry.
Rambarran said that Chinese nationals have, in recent times, taken over the mining and logging industries while maintaining a strong grip on commerce.
During a recent interview that was aired on Channel 13, Rambarran sided with critics who had before stated that Bai Shan Lin is raping the forest while giving Guyana little or nothing in return. He projected that the same thing would happen if the Chinese go into the fishing industry. The only difference is that lots of Guyanese will be put out of jobs and the price for fish would skyrocket.
Discussions have already commenced between officials of the Agriculture Ministry and representatives of interested Chinese fishermen. The foreigners sought clarification on various aspects of the country’s fishing sector, including local legislation.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said, “They (Chinese) are seeking clarifications on our laws… we (Ministry) are seeking more information about their interest.”
The last time the Chinese fishing matter came up; members of the local industry had expressed grave concern over those operators entering the sector. Local fishermen were initially concerned about purported additions to the fishing industry.
The Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) had expressed unease when allegations surfaced that some 40 fishing licences were being granted to Chinese nationals. The Agriculture Ministry had however, clarified the matter stating that no licences had been granted.
Local fishermen were more concerned about the purported additions to the fishing industry since they claimed that they were being asked to reduce their operations because of depleted resources.
During his interview, Rambarran said that that fishermen are already struggling to cope with high fuel prices and “if government should grant fishing licence to the Chinese, it is going to be a disaster for all the people involved in fishing whether they work in the processing plant, dry fish or sell fish.”
He said, “No one will be able to monitor the Chinese; they will not only fish. They are going to catch everything in the ocean and they are going to have one large processing plant.”
Rambarran added, “They are not only going to source fish using their own boats, they will buy from local fishermen….there will be less for local consumers, the price will go up. People will lose jobs.
The businessman explained that the Chinese have fished their entire ground and are now coming to small countries, “and catch everything. There will be no monitoring.” He said that the same thing that is happening in the logging industry will happen in fishing.