President assures district support for fishermen |24 June 2004

President James A. Michel said yesterday his government will find ways to directly assist fishermen in different districts by providing them with adequate facilities.

Speaking after a site visit to the nearly completed fish market at Anse Etoile yesterday, President Michel told reporters that the improved facilities can be a service both to the fishermen themselves and the community that they reside in, and spoke of plans for future markets in Bel Ombre and other districts where they might be needed.

The president was accompanied on the visit by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Ronny Jumeau and Finance principal secretary Francis Chang Leng.

Plans for the fish market originally date back to 2002, when Mr Michel -- vice-president at the time -- entertained complaints from Anse Etoile fishermen who felt they needed a safer, secure and more hygienic place from which to make their living.

Many fishermen at Anse Etoile currently sell their catch by the roadside just south of the district's school.
The government-funded project, under the supervision of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), includes a sheltered and fenced bazaar sandwiched between a small car park and storage facilities for the fishermen.

The project also consists of a slipway, lights and a five-meter jetty, as well as a channel carved through reclaimed land allowing easier access from the sea to the landing. Trees have also been planted between the bazaar and the nearby basketball court.

President Michel said he was impressed with the overall facilities, but hinted that he would look into acquiring more storage space given the amount of fishermen based in the area, which is thought to be upwards of 50.

The recently built storage facility features nine separate compartments with electricity connections, which the president said would be useful for fishermen based some distance away from the facility who might need a deep freezer for storing bait and ice.
President Michel added that the construction of an ice plant for the new market was also a possibility.

Fishermen who wish to use the storage facilities will be required to pay a fee, the amount of which has yet to be determined, said SFA fishing port manager Clifford Toussaint.
Mr Toussaint said he was unsure how requests to use the storage compartments would be processed.

Though he said it was premature to put an exact price tag on the project, Mr Toussaint estimated that the total cost for the fish market and its related projects would be more than R300,000.
Mr Toussaint said that a number of modifications and additional projects had to be added on to the project external of the SFA's original plans, such as the construction of a new bus stop and shelter to cater for a sizeable enough car park adjacent to the bazaar.

An additional contractor had to be recruited to facilitate the peripheral phases of the project, he added. The entire project is expected to be completed by next week.
Asked by the press whether he thought fishermen would continue selling their catch by the roadside as has been noted in other areas, Mr Toussaint said that in gauging the reaction and appreciation of the fishermen, he thought the facility would be put to good use.