A section of the Meadow Bank wharf on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) collapsed this morning and fishermen subsequently listed a number of problems affecting the industry including a “dysfunctional” co-op society.
The facility has been in a dilapidated state for a number of years and according to reports, several fishermen were loading bags of fish from boats at the facility around 7:30 this morning when several planks underneath a section of the structure gave way. Two fishermen sustained minor injuries.
The planks were resting on a small piece of wood and the fishermen noted that they had tried to strengthen that part of the wharf over the years.
Fishermen at the wharf told Stabroek News today during a visit to the facility that they have been calling on the government for close to a decade to address the state of the unsafe structure.
Other issues including the resuscitation of the fishermen’s cooperative society, security, the dredging of the area around the port as well as the construction and management of a fuel depot for fishing purposes were raised by the concerned seamen.
A letter to this effect, which is intended for the Office of the President, was prepared two days ago by the group of more than 200 fisherfolk operating at the wharf and will be dispatched today.
