Ever since the construction of the Fisheries Complex, the Choiseul fishermen have had their fair share of problems dealing with the perrenial accumulation of sand in the pond. Whose fault? The designer or nature?
Webby, a fisherman in the village, kept saying that the design is all wrong, and that there should be room for a continuous flow of the tide through the pond. Can't say much about that. I'm no technician.
However, it is common knowledge that the accummulation of sand in the pond have angered the fishermen to a point when they shut down the operations of the Complex during a strike last year.
Bousquet has always sympathized with the fishermen's plight, and most time have been instrumental in getting the sand removed, most times at the cost of over $25,000.00. But the problem keeps recurring and recurring, causing more frustrations for the helpless fishermen.
Until a permanent solution can be found, the Rep, a visionary as he is, had to find a way to minimise this sand problem. It affected the fishermen's livelihood. I remember him (the Rep) at pains with himself, contemplating on a solution to assist the fishermen.
During discussions with the Village Council Bousquet mentioned the efforts he has been putting,through his Ministry to get a fire truck,an excavator and a dump truck for the constituency. The donor, the Japanese Government, agreed to the two latter choices.
At a signing and presentation ceremony held at the conference room of the Fisheries Complex, the Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Masanobu Yoshii, jointly signed documents with the Village Council and the Rep and presented a cheque of US $130,000.00 to the Village Council for the purchase of the excavator and dump truck.
In his address Bousquet to the audience and by extension the fishermen, that this gift is only a temporary measure which will not solve the problem, but only give some relief. A comprehensive study, he continued is being commisioned to find ways to solve the problem.
The Chairperson of Council thanked Mr. Yoshii for this generous donation from his Government, while Councilor Stanislas presented a plaque to the Counsellor.
The truck and excavator will be under the supervison of the Village Council, who will be responsible to hire operators and maintain the equipment.
Is there any doubt that Bousquet real cares for his people?
