Social Security, now observing its 30th Anniversary, on Monday February 7, handed over a quantity of marine safety equipment to the Anguilla Government valued at just under EC$100,000. The aim is to protect the many persons who engage in fishing as a livelihood and, as part of the food chain, supply the island’s population, hotels and restaurants with a wide range of fish.
Social Security’s Director, Timothy Hodge, said that fishermen, now referred to as “fishers,” comprised a very important segment of the community. “You fish for food for us and make a very important contribution to the economy and, of course, you provide for your families,” he told the large gathering. “Then your families and you contribute to Social Security and Social Security contributes to the community; pays benefits and we have been doing this for the last thirty years.”
Mr. Hodge noted that the missing factor was the absence of the fishers, as a body, contributing to Social Security for self-employment coverage. He stressed that their contributions were a means of securing benefits for themselves and their families when they were no longer able to fish. He said the handing over of the safety equipment, including communication systems, was timely.
Mr. Hodge observed that the contribution had come at a time when one of three fishermen was lost at sea, and he pointed to the fact that safety was very important. He stressed that, like paying social security, safety at sea was a two-way process. “You can’t reach the radio if you don’t have radio equipment; you can’t be seen if your boat isn’t painted in the correct colours; and you can’t be seen if you don’t have on a life jacket or something by which you can be located,” he added: “There are things that fisher folk can do to contribute to their own safety; to contribute to Social Security and in turn for Social Security to contribute to them.”
Samuel Webster, Adviser in the Ministry responsible for fishing, and a representative of the fishing community, was pleased with the donation of safety equipment. He recalled when he was lost at sea on a fishing trip four years ago, and how Sky King radio equipment, operated by Aubrey Smith, of Island Harbour, had coordinated the search for him. “I can personally attest to the need for this equipment,” he said. “It will play a pivotal role in helping to keep our fishermen safe at sea.” He placed on record his thanks to the Social Security Board for providing the equipment and appealed to his fellow fishers to use it to ensure their safety on the high seas.
Mr. Webster listed the equipment as follows: 2 ICOM M604A Marine Radios; 2 Mirage 130v Amplifiers; 2 Vs 50M Astron Power Suppliers; 2 DAIWA SWR & Cross Needle Meters; 2 Garmin GPS Maps 4008/4208; 3 19-foot Antennas; 4 8-foot Antennas; 150 feet of cable; 12 Lighted Marker Buoys; a set of Clear Navigational Lights (to be mounted at Sandy Hill, Forest Bay, Little Harbour, West End, Crocus Bay Reef, Flat Caps Point and Shoal Bay) and 200 feet of chain as well as a supply of swivels. The communication equipment includes a 25-watt radio and a Mirage Amplifier with an output of 130 watts with GPS connection.
Deputy Chairman of the Social Security Board, Alkins Rogers, was grateful to the large number of fishermen for their presence. “The Board, by contributing this much-needed equipment, is contributing to ensuring the safety of our fishers,” he continued. “Over the years we have lost so many of our experienced fishers, and a few days ago we lost yet another Anguillian, leaving many family members and friends to grieve…
“To prevent, and even lessen the chances of this happening again, we want to put in place systems to address these issues and to assist our fishers and their families. This equipment, while impressive, will mean very little if the fishermen do not have the necessary radios and other equipment to complement this equipment. We are calling on the Government of Anguilla to make it mandatory for the fishers to have radios in every boat, life vests and also to register their departures and arrivals.”
Mr. Rogers noted that the route between Anguilla and St. Martin/St. Maarten “was not monitored” by a coast guard vessel and hoped that no accident would happen in the channel. He said there was a need “to develop a state-of-the-art coast guard and a properly-staffed and functioning marine division that monitors our waters all around the island, but especially between the two islands.” He suggested that Governor Alistair Harrison should use “some of the Good Government Funds, and some of the funds from [the Queen’s] Diamond Jubilee, to put towards developing a state-of-the-art coast guard here onAnguilla.”
He paid tribute to Bertram Richardson of North Hill and Aubrey Smith ofIslandHarbour, for using their own radio equipment to play significant roles in ensuring the safety of Anguillian fishermen and other boat operators at sea. He joined in appealing to fishermen to travel with safety equipment and to have a complete protection package with Social Security for themselves and their families.
Minister of Home Affairs, Walcott Richardson, urged the fishermen to agitate as a group, and in a positive manner, for any necessary assistance. He said Social Security’s donation of equipment to the Anguilla Government was long overdue considering the risks that “our fishers take in order to supply our local and regional markets with fish.”
The Minister continued: “On March 13, 1962, my father, along with his friends Isaac Mason Hodge and Mathias Richardson, perished at sea while on a fishing expedition. While it may be argued that this technology was not around in those days, it brings into sharp focus that the same safety concerns that existed some 50 years ago are still very much an issue today.”
Mr. Richardson said he was heartened when his Adviser, Samuel Richardson, brought the subject of safety equipment for fishermen to his attention. He stated that the Government immediately contacted Social Security to fund the equipment, and he expressed the Government’s appreciation “for the timely donation which will go a long way in improving the safety of fishers at sea.” He encouraged them to take full advantage of the equipment and to ensure that their safety was maintained.
Board member,EvanLake, a businessman and fisherman, who addressed his fishing colleagues, applauded the Social Security System, the Board, management and staff, for playing an important role in national development. He was grateful to all contributors to the System who, by doing so, were the beneficiaries of the fund.
Mr. Lake commended Bertram Richardson and Aubrey Smith for their separate efforts in using their communication equipment, time and money to assist members of the fishing community at sea. He appealed to persons involved in the fishing industry to contribute to the Social Security system in order to reap the benefits of doing so later on.
Mr. Lake and Deputy Director of Social Security, Maglan Richardson, presented awards, in the form of plaques to Mr. Richardson and Mr. Smith, for their contribution to the safety of fishermen over the years.
Social Security’s Public Relations Officer, Ash Hodge, chaired the presentation ceremony and Denise Buchanan, Benefits Officer, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
