The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham will hold a meeting with Long Island fishermen to discuss growing concerns about marine poachers in the area. During the FNM's Long Island constituency office opening on Monday, Mr Ingraham announced he will be returning on Friday along with the commodore of the Defence Force to speak with local fishermen about the poaching problem - in particular the practice of Bahamian vessels hiring illegal workers as crew members. He said: "I know that you continue to have serious concerns about our fisheries industry, a backbone of the Long Island economy, and you continue to hold serious concerns about our ability to police our resources and to keep you and your industry safe from poachers. "I have already given immigration clear policy guidelines about the granting of work permits for non-Bahamians working on our fishing boats under the guise of being marine engineers. We know that they are mostly fishermen, plain and simple." Mr Ingraham said that while the Defence Force will increase its presence in the area with a new base in Ragged Island and 10 more boats added to the forces' fleet, the public must also commit to protecting marine resources and do their part in reporting illegal activity regardless of who is involved. "You must commit to being our eyes on the high seas and reporting any incidents of abuse even when the abuse may be taking place under cover of other of our compatriots," he said. In addition, Mr Ingraham said Bahamians need to limit the extent to which they enter into "marriages of convenience" with foreigners. "When a Dominican fisherman marries a Bahamian to get status and then becomes engaged in fishing as a spouse of a Bahamian citizen, there is little the government can do to stop a man working to support his Bahamian wife," he said. During his trip, Mr Ingraham will be commissioning a new classroom and pre-school in Mangrove Bush and a new technical and vocational block at the NGM Major High School. According to the prime minister, the Ministry of Works also will be signing contracts for the repair of the Clarence Town Dock and the construction of a new toilet block at the dock.