Rotary Club of Truro works with Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago

The fishermen of Barbados Bay, Tobago, fish using a traditional style of heavy pirogue, usually about 20-30 feet in length. As they are operating without a wharf they must swim out to their boats (or use an inner tube), climb into the boat, bring it to shore and load supplies for the day or unload fish at end of day. They then must manouvre the boat into sufficient depth and return the boat to its mooring.

BBFA was formed as an official organization (2001) with the help of two Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) Volunteer Advisors (VA’s), Rotarian Lydia Sorflaten and husband Allan. With the help of the VA’s, BBFA applied and received funds from a Telefood program (UN-FAO) to build a small ice plant. The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) took over the project in 2004, putting much effort and funds into building a state of the art market for fish. The government has enthusiastically gone ahead with the building of several more fish markets using the Barbados Bay Fish Market as a model.

The problem is, they have forgotten the fishermen. The fishermen have felt powerless, not having access to their ice machine for icing their boats early morning when they go out to sea. The facility is run by government appointed officials who operate on government hours. The facility has been promoted as a great government achievement, yet is very under utilized and at risk of not being used by fishermen. Moving to a more democratic approach where the participants have input into decision making is difficult. This past March/April, Allan and Lydia resided for a month at Barbados Bay the fishermen requested a meeting. The government officials who operate the facility reluctantly allowed them to use it for a meeting.

At the meeting the fishermen voiced their frustrations and 75 people later signed a petition requesting access to ice early morning (5:30 am) and for boats returning after 4pm. Fishermen determined priorities and among others felt that if they had two small boats to ferry fishermen out to their moored boats, this would be a great help.

The Rotary Club of Truro contacted the Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago concerning the project. The Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago had Mr. Trevor Gardner, BBFA President speak to their July 2011 meeting. The following letter was received from the Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago:

Barbados Bay Fishermen's Association Project

From the Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago

Further to my last email, be advised that our new board for 2011-2012 met and decided to accept the opportunity to be the executing agent for your project with the Barbados Bay Fishermen's Association. Subsequent to this decision we invited the President of Barbados Bay Fishing Association to our regular weekly meeting this evening Tuesday July 12th, 2011.

Mr Trevor Gardener shared a lot of information with us about the genesis of this project along with the dreams of his Association. Indeed it was quite sobering and touching. Our club congratulate you on this very worthwhile project for the fishermen. Mr Trevor Gardener and his association is ready to proceed and so are we - Rotary Club of Southwest Tobago.

To visit Barbados Bay Fishermen in Tobago, click on the link below: 

http://tinyurl.com/6zcmhm6