Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill on Wednesday morning met with fishermen at the Meadow Bank wharf in Georgetown, whose boats were damaged by the wake created by a cargo vessel.
Nineteen boats were damaged as a result of the wake. A wake is a region of disturbed water caused by an object moving through water.
The minister told Stabroek New via telephone that on Tuesday at about 10:30 am, the boats were damaged as a result of the cargo vessel entering the port. It was being turned around by a tug and during the process, the wake created caused the small boats that were moored at the Meadow Bank wharf to bang against each other resulting in significant damage.
Edghill confirmed that 19 fishing boats were damaged as a result of the incident and at this point compensation for the fishers is being explored.
According to the Facebook page, the minister spoke with the fishermen who highlighted various displacement challenges. He was accompanied by Director of Legal Services of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Thandi Mc Allister, along with other officers from MARAD and the Department of Fisheries.
The minister has agreed to address the matter to ensure that the fishermen’s livelihoods are not further disrupted.
