Government officials will meet with Virgin Islands fishers at the territory’s first National Fishermen Conference on Friday at the Purcell Estate Community Centre.
The event, which is to start at 10 a.m., is sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, according to Government Information Services.
“The conference’s main goal is to stimulate the industry, through providing a place for the sharing of information and ideas and through offering an avenue of opportunities in networking and further awareness for Virgin Islands fishermen,” said Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering, the minister of natural resources and labour. “I want fishermen to recognise their worth to the territory and the importance of the maintenance of something ingrained so deeply in our history and culture.”
NRL Permanent Secretary Ronald Smith-Berkeley said the ministry has been working on the conference for “some time.”
“Through this forum the government and fishermen can communicate effectively to make greater, much needed progress in this industry,” he added.
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