Trinidad and Tobago
Guardian
Recovering from disaster will take time
By Jannelle Bernard
All Tobago Fisherfolk:
President of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association
Curtis Douglas says while clean-up operations
have been progressing since the February 7 oil
spill, he is concerned about possible long-term
financial and environmental effects.
In an interview on CNC3’s The Morning Brew
yesterday, Douglas said Tobago has suffered a
great loss; it will take time to recover financially
from the devastating impact on the economy and
the fishing community in particular.
“One has to understand, when something like
this happens ... it has a downstream effect on the
fisherfolk, on marine life, and also the byproduct
of fish for those who depend on fish or the
byproduct of fish for their survival because
Tobago is a fishing community. At least 40 to 50
per cent of the population depends on the fishing
community for their survival to feed their
families,” he said.
Douglas added that the island’s food supply,
which is heavily dependent on the fishing
industry, is being affected, as marine life has
been devastated.
“We have suffered a very great loss and still are
suffering in terms of economic value. Also, the
marine life that is destroyed, it will take some
time for that marine life, or part of the island, to
develop again for activities,” he added.
Economist Dr Vanus James, who was also a guest
on the programme, said the oil spill can lead to
the deepening of Tobago’s dependence on
Trinidad, depending on the extent of the
contamination of the island’s ecosystem.
Photo -
All Tobago Fisherfolk Association president
Curtis Douglas