Taking into account the need to help save the lives of Anguilla’s fishermen, and the importance of their livelihood to the island’s economy, the Ministry of Home Affairs has provided special equipment to locate and rescue them when lost or stranded at sea.
The SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers, as the devices are called, were purchased from money donated to the Ministry by DIGICEL. The company’s Country Manager in Anguilla, John Gidharry, made the presentation on Wednesday this week.
Sam Webster, Adviser to Minister Walcott Richardson, and a practicing fisherman, read a statement from Bob Turner, a friend of the fishermen, who assisted in obtaining the devices.According to Mr. Turner, the equipment is linked to 21 globally positioned satellites. It has buttons to press to relay information to search and rescue organisations – and selected relatives and friends – indicating the need for assistance and the position of the mariner.
“By using a GPS personal locater, those who put themselves in harm’s way can broadcast their exact location to facilitate their rescue,”Mr. Turner was quoted as saying. “Anguilla will now be able to launch a search and rescue mission to the location of the endangered vessel, without the time-consuming and fuel-wastingsearches once required…There can be no doubt…that lives which would have been lost will be saved.”
Speaking for himself, Mr. Webster recalled that he was rescued on two occasions by using his personal GPS system. He spoke about its value and was delighted that the Ministry had accepted his recommendations to provide similar equipment for fishermen, and had succeeded in getting DIGICEL to fund the cost.
DIGICEL’s Country Manager, Mr.Gidharry, said his company was proud of its partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs in delivering the GPS Messengers. “These tracking devices will enable communication way beyond cellular coverage in the event that our fishermen drift past mobile coverage,” he stated. “DIGICEL recognises the immense value that such a device can play in the operations of our fishermen…DIGICEL is offering these devices as a safety measure to eliminate the risks of them being lost at sea.”
Owner and Operator of Sky King Radio atIslandHarbour, Aubrey Smith, welcomed the donation of the GPS equipment and described it as one of the best devices to locate and rescue fishermen in distress. He spoke about his station’s involvement in monitoring fishermen at sea, and some of the rescue operations it had assisted with including the rescuing of Sam Webster.
Minister Walcott Richardson recalled a number of meetings with fishermen to discuss ways in which they could carry out their livelihood in a safe manner using, among other equipment, the Satellite GPS Messengers. “We must single out DIGICEL for answering the call to sponsor the purchase of these devices,” he said. “It is indeed a significant investment by this corporate partner in helping to make our fishermen safe while at sea.”
Earlier, Principal Assistant Secretary, Kenneth Hodge, who chaired the presentation ceremony, read a statement from Chief Corporate Officer at Caribbean Cable Communications, Lee Bertman. The CCC official said that procedures and organisations needed to be implemented to support the GPS system. “They include training of the fishermen in the maintenance and operation of the SPOT units and the creation of an Air and Surface Response Plan forAnguilla,” Bertman was quoted as saying. “This will include coordination with regional organisations such as the US Coast Guard, VISA (the Search and Rescue Organisation for the BVI) and the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation.”
The 100 Satellite GPS Messengers, obtained at the reduced price of US$6,000, will be made available to licensed fishermen (who pay EC$250 per year). The subscription cost for each GPS set per fishing boat is US$100 annually.
The equipment was blessed by Brother Sanford Richardson, a Methodist Church Local Preacher. He is also the Commissioner of Social Development.
