What's next Antigua , this government is not acting to protect what little we have left ,maybe its because the Chinese gives them grants, by the way grants are not free we have to pay it back so what are the government really doing ??

Wah dem can't find pan land, dem will look fah inna de sea. No horse on land, but SEAhorse inna sea water. No cats on land, SEAcat in de sea. Wonder if there is a SEAdog somewhere waiting to be discovered.
Chinese n'yam anything dat move
The joke is on us Antigua!!!

Chef has read your blog and you have put the case clear for all to understand why the government is not going to act on this one . it is up to us.
Eli if it is legally possible post the names of these Chinese business agents so we may know the face of our enemy. the enemy of our collective future and our natural resources.
Call your protest and Chef will be there in person. because my children will eat lobster fish and conch right from our waters when they are my age .
do not mess with Chefs food because trust me a hungry man is an angry ,man and chef is "hungry'. this is an issue that every Antiguan can relate to and understand ,it is thus not without a degree of irony that chef notes that a bucket of baby conch might just do what 47.000.000 $ worth of junk could not .FINALLY UNITE ALL ANTIGUANS AROUND A COMMON CAUSE AND TAKE A STAND FOR OUR NATION AND FUTURE. so let it be about this.. it is a worthy cause.Chef will await the call to action.

Last night before this article was written, I actually wrote about the lobster situation on one of my blogs. It is time for a real protest, and I think you will hear about that soon. Have a read if you get a chance: https://www.adventureantigua.com/2012/05/22/will-the-chinese-wipe-out-lobster-from-antigua-and-barbudas-waters/

It is so funny we talk about Chinese but this is much bigger that them, what about the spanish, dominican etc, the fisheries act need to be pass in parliment and we have closed season other island do it why can't we lobbster matting is april-july we closed that time and them open back this must be also done for counch and fish something need to be done now rather that latter, there is no fish in antigua they are now going to barbuda. Please do something now.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Our Political Elites must be true not only to themselves but also the "Bewildered & Bemused Electorate". They must protect the National Interests of and for the People. The PRC is transforming, the contours of North Atlantic Financial Hegemony, African & Latin American Development trajectory & Caribbean Capital Infrastructure Development inspite of the North Atlantic Fiscal Adjustment & Structural Reform Imperatives.
Quote:

Rather than become either praise-singers of fear mongers, the time has come for the (OECS & Caricom) to formulate a coherent plan for engaging the PRC. We must develop our own vision & strategy that use the fact that a future superpower is offering a historic opportunity to hop on board the growth train

Let me end by suggesting that since 1981, the velocity and trajectory of Antigua & Barbuda-China integration from inertia to a kinetic, dynamic Capital Infrastructure Development, Business & Entrepreneurial Interactions have caused some huge and interesting imbalances and challenges. As Dr. Isaac Newton articulates we must not wrap our selves in ideological wanderings but seek working handles.

Quote:

a group of them can be found wandering around the Villa and Fort rd areas collecting crabs on the roadside as they emerge from their holes

now that's not nice if you see Chinese looking for crabs just direct them towards any of the many houses that serve crabs instead of having them wandering aimlessly around villa ,chef has been told a well know house on fort road serves a mean Spanish style crab so did an other one before it caught fire let them go and get crabs there and support our "local 'economy. we will make money at least twice once giving and after that removing...( don't tell them about blue soap)

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. It is said that "only he who feels it knows it." After the economic melt down of 2008, it was observed by many engaged in Geoolitical study that the PRC in 2009 embarked on massive fiscal stimulus program that created a surge in global economic growth, even though TARP and Quantitative Easing also helped. Keep that in mind & A&B "Fiscal Adjusted & Structural Reform."
Prior to that catastrophe, in 2005, China's Cabinet, issued Nine Principles to Encourage and Standardise Enterprises Overseas Investment which required Chinese companies operating overseas to abide by local laws, bid contracts on the basis of transparency and equality, protect the labour rights of local employees, protect the environment, implement corporate responsibilitie s and so on.
The Good Hon Dr. PM is responsible for Foreign Affairs. It his responsibility to ensure through the Diplomatic Channels or through his Good Office as Hon. Dr. PM to engage the PRC Ambassador ensure that the PRC companies operating in Antigua abide by the PRC's Undertakings.
Justic for detractors, rogues, vagabonds and criminals in the PRC is blindingly swift and even terminal.

This is not new, they have been doing this for sometime!!! When it has just finish raining, a group of them can be found wandering around the Villa and Fort rd areas collecting crabs on the roadside as they emerge from their holes and throwing them into bags.

R Berry now that just to sweet to leave alone. I love your closing line.
If the lone wolfs take this one on I Chef expects to see Eli ,every fisherman and otherwise Antiguan united out there on that day. because this is really an national issue. Chef will simply have to close shop that day if it is to be so because chef feels this is good enough to act on. this is real ,this is serious and non political .this is a national/intern ational issue for real.
Quote:

"Chinese ignorance cause them to break Antigua laws whilst using Diplomatic vehicles".

simply genius BBC CNN hope you are watching this one . And when we are done there can we go and picket the ministry of agriculture with responsibility for fisheries as well as the ministry of international affairs ( chef thinks that would be the office of Dr2 PM BS) so we can protect our self's legally from environmental rapist be they Chinese ( even BMW MAN Germany design) Japanese or french

I challenge the Lone Wolf protesters to picket outside the Chinese embassy, with signs saying "Chinese ignorance cause them to break Antigua laws whilst using Diplomatic vehicles".

Wha loss! that will get on CNN for sure.

let us use the media like Caribarena and observer for our benefit and see how long they want to play the "CD" game with us , for this is our country and either you follow our rules and customs our you get lost .it is really that simple, our friends don't know where "get lost" is located'? just point them toward the ocean and say anywhere but here.they will get the idea.
A picture can be worth a 100000 words as the lone wolfs have proven, so get out your cell phone and start shooting( pictures that is) Chef will bet you that once we do that our Chinese friends will think twice, before they go out and known or not "RAPE" the only thing we really have (our natural resources our food supply our life line my beach and my ocean )for Chef has no option of going back to china once Antigua has been plundered of everything we have and we don't even know it. to my Chinese friends If you want conch come by my kitchen Chef sells mature" granny" conch water. chef is not a baby killer.but business is business. and conch is part of my business you Chinese keep out of it

those whom we have elected to be in charge of our beloved Antigua have failed .ALP who does not want to admit how cozy they are with our Chinese "friends" as well as the UPP and her shoulin appendix. the later is obvious for all to see.time for us to take charge of our own future.
The Plan: if proof is provided to the police be it in the form of photographic evidence will they act accordingly?
if so maybe we can put our cell phones to use . every time we see our "friends" somewhere engaging in activities that might be illegal please take pictures and post them to caribarena, let them send a copy to the relevant police authorities and lets see what happens. Chef is sure that once our Chinese friends begin to feel the heat of close scrutiny of there movements and actions( something they should be use to back home) they will understand that the honeymoon shoulin promised is clearly over.
We my sisters and brothers are not powerless. evil illegal activity can only take place in the dark. if we shine our collective light on it it will perish. so lets us expose then in full public view .

they are back out there right now doing it again.. someone go and do something!

The Chinese are in the process of ruining numerous countries with the infiltration that they purposely send away to get rich quick and send back to the mother country…it is ALL about China. Because of size it will not take long for Antigua to be ruined also. Antiguan people need to take a good look at how these people live which for the most part is bordering on filthy and total disrespect for our environment. They have absolutely no respect for Antigua or the people and could not care less about the destruction they are intent on doing. Wake up Antigua, when the Chinese have completely destroyed tourism and local industry they will leave us with nothing but cheap cracking up buildings that really serve no purpose…They need to be sent packing now! There is no need for another airport and we all know the state of WPP. They hand out monies in places to suit themselves. To my mind the writing is on the wall and if no reaction to get rid of these immigrants along with their crappy projects that we can never pay for, Antigua will just continue on its’ road to total destruction of everything good and productive that we ever knew in the past. React for our children's future!

This whole fisheries thing needs to be addressed pronto as this whole scenario is nothing new. Eli is right in saying that the Fisherie's Act needs to be signed NOW and ALL it's regulations implemented. I have seen antiguans, and especially Barbudans taking immature conch and lobster for years, there used to be a particular spot on Maiden island where local conch fishermen would come ashore, clean their conch & leave the shells there, piles & piles of shells, some large, many small. Right now everyone is getting uptight & indignant because the chinese are breaking the law, where were all of you when the local people were doing the same thing ? It's the same thing with gill netting & spear fishing, theses guys take everything leaving no young to grow and produce more. It needs stopping now before we all get our seafood frozen from the pacific.

@ Observer. I am wondering what you did when according to your story you observed about 50 baby conchs in a bucket and material. I would have thrown them back in

I told you the Chinese think of us as less than human being. They will deplenish our resources no matter how young the livestock is. Look how they treat their own people in China so you really think they will think of Antigua's best interest lol. It is not only PM Spencer who has sold out Antigua to China because it has been conducted for decades. It is more severe now because they are displaying lack of consideration for our country. Watch it will get worse and there will be turmoil between citizens and these individuals.

Everyone's fed up with the Chinese because they do this and that and break the law and blah blah blah. They're like the Cuban frogs, it's too late, there's tons of them and they are doing exactly as they please. Our own immigration is letting them in because supposedly they are helping us... with what, old generator, fishing complex that are rotting and no one uses properly, and god knows how many other shoddy things they are supposedly providing. The blame lies squarely on our Government's shoulders and their lack of foresight and their greed. Our Government Ministers are getting richer by the minute while our country goes down the tubes and no one seems to care. Unless the people stand up and DEMAND that THEIR GOVERNMENT (because they work for US) do their job and account for every penny this country which is teetering on the brink of destruction will slowly sink as sure as the sun rises to the East of us every day. It seems like no one is accountable for anything. Just the mere fact that the Fisheries Act hasn't been signed yet is absolutely pathetic. Who does the Minister think he is? a God, that everything/one must wait on him to pick up a pen and sign. How pathetic!

One can understand your position and conscientious efforts in endeavouting to see that the nation's marine resources were not depleted in any way.

One may, therefore, wish to commend you highly for your almost "...single-hand ed efforts" for such keeness of "...sensitizati on, protection and preservation of such resources." Public pressure, however, may be visited upon those with responsibility to manage.
The "...TONE' of the news item connotes something pointedly different"--... Slow response; ...reluctant to conduct search of diplomatic vehicles." The news also said the "...CATCH HAD ALREADY GONE" [para 3] by the time the police had arrived.

It would be sad if the authorities, even on the basis of "...SUSPICION," were not prepared to forward a "...PROTESTATIO N NOTE" through the diplomatic channel of their displeasure.

Good luck in your patriotic efforts.

Notes From a Native Son Of The Rock. Many have suggested that effective and efficient management of revenues - Fiscal Adjustment - should not be limited to just the GoAB's accrual from Taxes, Tourism and exploitation of our renewable resources. GoAB must ensure that exploitation of our natural & renewable resources inure to and produce optimal benefits to the Nation and People of A&B.
It is of the utmost importance that the GoAB seize the opportunities which are being presented to it by the interests in our natural and renewable resources and put in place up-to-date - Structural Reform - adequate policies, laws, regulations, structures, processes, systems, & skills to effectively manage, not only the harvesting, but also the manner in which the end products of the harvesting processes are managed.
Disband the Army. Strengthen the Coast Guard & Fishery. Develop and Implement Marine Engineering & Fishery Training.
Hon. Dr. PM. a tete a tete with the PRC's Ambassador is Mandatory to send a stern warning. Quote:

A fly that dances carelessly in front of a spider's web risks the wrath of the spider's teeth.

Heaven Help The Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda.

As a nation we are in no position to point fingers when our own prime Minister Baldwin Spencer xxxts the law.
The PM should be leading by example, but instead he byp** parliament and purchases generators illegally without parliamentary approval.

Commences building an airport terminal on land he does not own.

Ignores court rulings to pay HMB for the land the government has expropriated.

Suppressed the report into the FSRC in contravention of the Freedom of Information Act.

Failed to bring charges against Allen Stanford.

Failed to investigate Errol Corts role in the Stanford debacle.

Failed to answer basic questions regarding the age of the Chinese generators.................

The list of Spencer and the UPPs failures are to numerous to list but I think you get the point. When our leaders fail to follow the nations laws how can you rebuke foreigners for lesser crimes.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. The emergence of China as a dominant financier and developer raises critical challenges for the people of A&B "Living in the IMF's NEST" and broken by being "Fiscal Adjusted" and baffled by "Structural Reform" with poor revenue generation, management & disbursement capacity, weak culture of good governace, policies and regulations, a total reliance on Donors' Largesse and FDI. Compounded by, and here this mere voice in the wilderness ventures not on the coastal waters but into the deep blue, the lack of adequately skilled personnel with the requisite technological knowledge which are so necessary to to translating our renewable resources into the development of, for our Nation & by our people.
In response to this News Portal Article:Call for Losbster Closed Season comments titled "Save The Lobster Men & Fishery!" the plaintive cry was raised Quote:

Why is every thing so Transactional in the Nation? Is there anyone in this Blue GoAB who is Transformational?

Read more: http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/environment/environment/100380-call-for-lobster-closed-season.html#ixzz1viOsmnSJ

Well if its OK for the government to illegally build an airport terminal on land it does not own the PM can't complain about the Chinese workers fishing for a few conch for lunch!

The Chinese goverment developed this ingenious model over 30 years ago where they sent selected chinese citizens into countries all across the globe to open, manage, and operate chinese restaurants which were owned by the chinese government. Implementation of that model effectively achieved its objective by creating a steady stream of huge amounts of incoming cash from around the world by the sale of rice, chowmein and chicken inexpensively. That is how China has built up an empire (an ingenious model)where it is now USA's biggest lender and can throw cash to buy whoever they wish. It is this proud culture that the chinese have developed that we constantly see on display. They feel they have money, they have power, and they can go anywhere and do anything they feel like.

I did not even know that you could catch these so close to shore I always thought one had to dive to catch conch. This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated, the lobster issue is one thing because no one can tell the fisher folk who to sell their catch too but when it comes to juvenile resources like the baby conch then that’s a different story.

Just hoping that these persons using diplomatic plates are not persons with diplomatic immunity who is using said immunity to break the countries laws. If they don’t know then perhaps someone should visit Ms. Wang and inform her of the law governing the marine resources of Antigua and Barbuda

I see them with nets and rods going around to our ponds and beaches and cathcing everything they can. Tell them to stay away from Old Road because no matter how long the police take, we will hold them and the catch until the police arrive and I guarantee you, they will not come back again.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Eli, once again Thanks. Mr. Pompey, here is the "Rub!" Quote:

The emergence of China has raised fears that its non-adherence to the West's approach of imposing aid conditionalities has the potential to nullify all the progress made in fighting corruption and improving governance in (A&B) - implying that the problem of corruption and good governance is an (A&B) problem.

Empasis mine. Not only the Hon. Min. of Lands & Fishery, but the entire Cabinet, GoAB including Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and the A&B Populace need to be fully joined in this battle.
Given the Geopolitics of China,its peoples rapacious appetite for dim sum and all creatures great and small, and the lack of Vision & Strategic Planning in A&B, one can safely take comfort in the African Proverb which clearly defines the relationships and cultures of the Donor and the Supplicant: Quote:

A Camel and his Driver each have their own plan.

This potential disaster, nonchalantly foisted on a "bewildered and bemused electorate" conflate with these strangers making less than $100 US/mo in this strange land building its infrastructure.

not only are they fishing illegaly but take a trip in st john and count how much stores they own and resturant and compare the numbers to the local business. i ask my self who give them authority to set business in country. and the funny thing is they emply they own and mostly jamacian and guyanies

The law can be found at www.fisheries.gov.ag/information/laws_regulations/pdf/Fisheries_Regulations_1990.pdf

Quote:

28. The Minister may, in pursuance of section 38 of the Act, require any person charged with an offence, other than an offence under sections 24 and 30 of the Act to sign a statement in the form set out in Schedule X, admitting to the commission of the offence and expressing his willingness that the offence be dealt with in accordance with section 38 of the Act.

29. Any person contravening any of the provisions of these Regulations is guilty of an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment of twelve
months.

..

Very simple, in order for us, the Natural born natives of this Nation of Antigua, Barbuda & Redonda to benefit from what our foreparents struggled, died for, WE MUST REVOLT MENTALLY, and take back control of our rights from those who we entrusted them too, our GANSTA POLITICIANS...w en u sarrie fu marga dawg, e tun-a-rung an bite u...GET RID OF THE CORRUPT POLITICAL SYSTEM...REVOLT MENTALLY

I owe you and apology, you did a marvellous job with the resources available to you at the time. With this information hopefully others with greater numbers and physical might will be able to bar this from happening the next time they are caught.

It's good too see all the above comments on the rape of our little resource by greedy men. But comments alone can't help ,we need to stand up and say to Shoul and Dr Bs enouf is enouf. Tell us how the money go on the power plant. What did we have to give up for the stadium and 6m per mile roads.?
How many citizenships we have to give up for the airport...
If all Antiguan,red and blue dont join the pickets and demonstrations Now,,this country will continue to fall.. Start by signing the Caribareana
Petition . It's all connected..

The Government of ANTIGUA has sold out to the Chinese....cert ain people pocket real fat now....there is nothing we the people can do, it's too late.
By the way REAL ANALYST the DEVELOPMENTAL ASSISTANCE you speak of comes with a heavy price dont be fooled.....I dont hear peep from the Minister of Fisheries , i dont hear peep from the PM and i dont hear peep from SHOULIN......Wh at a sxax..!!!!!!!!! !!!

I guess they figured since Antigua supports illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean sanctuary, taking a few conch shouldn't be a big deal.

@observer …..thanks for reporting this matter, I wish more folks were there around the same time as you and you did the right thing not to attempt a citizen arrest for Gods knows what those Chinese are capable of and if you attempted maybe you would have gotten injured. But thank you for doing what you did, it really hurts my heart for these Chinese are doing, from since they invaded our land yrs back on these building projects allot of the ponds are fished out, yard fouls have gone missing , they killing ducks , they pretty much catch anything they can get their hands on , so we Antiguans really have to keep a keen eye out for them , for they don’t spend money here , they pretty much catch their lunch on a daily basis , whatever that may be , dog one day, cat another day … God knows what else they eat…

One of the main issues here is the Diplomatic Plates hence the diplomatic status of the Chinese allegedly involved in this incident. The police have to be cautious in this regards and indeed they seemed to have acted in that manner. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to get involved. Don't want to have an international incident again on our hands.

I am sure that is not the first-time and wouldn't be the last-time we have the Chinese fishing at Shell Beach or capturing our "endangered species!" It is just "unacceptable" that we brought in the Chinese workers and not give them a "Chinese-Versio n" of the laws of the land! Why are allowing our marine life to be destroyed by those who don't have any "respect" for the country and its people? The parliamental "unapproved" Chinese loans\grants to do projects don't give the Chinese or its workers the right to have open access to wipe out our marine life! Yet, again, they are reports that "large-fishing- fleets" are coming! Eli, are there here yet? Just like most of us are "ignogrant" to protect our land and waters from "outside-forces ," with intent to do harm, the Chinese are capitalizing on our weekness in having our government and law-enforcement officials passed or put tougher measures in places to protect our eco-system! Totally annoyed!

In Africa, poaching of endangered anything, particularly elephants is nce again getting out of control, the trails go back to Chinese demand and ability and desire to pay good money for evil deeds.
Rhino and elephant horn will not get the male tealee and bigger harder longer, yet that is what is believed. Science fails to confirm this.
Chinese aid means your wildlife and biodiversity will get screwed

Oh btw, Ban Ki Moon, UN head says that the oceans need better protections globaly.

Why are we taking our anger out on the Chinese? Who knows what they were promised in exchange for that spanking new power plant.
If you buying a mother hen, you must take her little chicks too.

THEY FEEL THEY CAN COME TO ANTIGUA AND DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING they want...and they LAUGH IN OUR FACES as they think we are STUPID and are below them and they probably know NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM......many of them hide behind of their 'diplomatic status' which I think is TOTAl BULL**!!!! we cannot go to China and let alone FART without getting locked up for a lifetime, so why are we putting up with these people coming into OUR COUNTRY and get away with ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING without being repremanded.
IF THE GOVERNMENT WONT DO ANYTHING, THEN IT IS UP TO US, ANTIGUAN CITIZENS TO DO SOMETHING OURSELVES....ST AND UP!!!

catching baby conchs "ruthless and ignorant"
getting caught red handed catching baby conchs "embar**ing and criminal"
getting caught catching baby conchs and having CD plates "priceless"
So that's how Chinese diplomats behave? hmmm best send them home fast.
committing a crime under the cover of what Diplomatic immunity? just because the car has CD plates.... they did not catch those conchs from the car and once out of the car only those with diplomatic passport can claim immunity. (right Mr Pompey or i**aken? so at least question those you can when a crime is reported don't just let them go ( Chef dear say a local would have not gotten away that easy i think).
Any person local or tourist alike knows very well not to take anything from the beach and ocean without permission not even sand. the Laws are very clear on that( enforcement now that's a different story...
Every child in Antigua knows you do not eat babies.. is this not so in china as well??????

what will be left for the future generations of Antigua and Barbuda? What will the tourists, that we DEPEND ON 100% for our islands revenue, see when they go snorkeling? NOTHING if we dont do something now!!!!!!!!!
This is the 2nd incident that I have had to deal with the Chinese. About 6-7months ago, I was at Jabba walk and witnessed, again about 8 chinese men, with HAMMERS, hammering away at the reef, breaking off LARGE chunks of the reef, in order to get out baby octopus and lobster and whatever else they could find.

Some one from the Government needs to set up a meeting with the Chinese Ebmassay or whomever is ultimately responsible for these people and have a meeting to discuss the laws of Antigua and Barbuda and explain to them that they are NOT excluded from being repremanded for breaking the law and there WILL be repercussions for their actions.
Our waters have been raped for YEARS and YEARS by neighbouring islands, esp the french ones, and now we are having to deal with the Chinese...IT HAS TO STOP!!!!!

I was then advised to leave the area before any confrontation happened and was ensured that the police would be there within a couple of mins. Obviously by the time the police came they evidence was gone, however...THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL and WE AS A COUNTRY NEEDS TO STEP UP!!

I saw a large bucket on the beach with something covering the top so no one could see in, so I took it off and saw about 25 BABY conchs in the bucket, these were NO WHERE EVEN CLOSE to be legal size, and all had in small live conchs. I then saw one of the femal chinese with a large material holding in her hands and obviously something was in that as well, so I called for her to come close and she put down the thing behind a rock, and I said to her 'what you are doing is illegal, and I walked up to the rock and opened up the material she had and again it was filled with about 20-25 BABY conchs again. I could not belive what I was seeing.

I was the actual person whom saw and reported the incident yesterday and i am a young woman and def would not feel safe making a citizen's arrest to 8 chinese men, that is why i immediately called the police in coolidge - a 2min drive from the location. I had no cell phone no me at the time, hence no pics..When i passed the area, i saw 3 CD cars parked on the side where I frequently see them, and about 8 chinese men, and about 2/3 chinese women. All of the men we out with masks on obviously hunting and looking for something.

Why are we allowing these people to come into our country and show blatant disrespect for us and our laws. Arwe done ah struggle aready, and dem dey come and ah nyam off arwe likkle food. Remember when dem dey done nyam off de meatkine and things gone bad and none food dey, dem dey gone home gone cook rice. Me direckly bex. When hard times knock arwe, remember arwe cant go ah china go beg food cuz dem dey had too much mouth for feed. me direckly bex.

And thus it begins...

Antigua is a beautiful place to live. Fresh seafood, and fertile soil to grow organic produce. I bet they don't spend their money on the island to buy food. They catch and grow their own food. The Chinese are overjoyed to have access to such a place. Now the exploitation and disrespect begins, and it's going to get worse. They are going to start opening up nail salons on the island. You watch.

The government is in bed with the Chinese. If they rough up their citizens, all this free money is going to be cut off. We need to take the country back for ourselves. We can't sit here and point fingers at each other, because by the time there will be no more conch, or lobster, or whatever it is being targetted next.

We have been brought up with this notion of always going through law enforcement and settling disputes at the polls, but right is right. Next time anyone sees this going on get in there and take the conch out of these people's hand. Intimidate them, chase them away. Let US do something.

Pompey, of course I know who is responsible for managing our marine resources and have publicly said that the Minister needs to get the Fisheries Act's Regulations signed. It has been sitting on his desk for ages, and until that is done, there is little that the officers who work at Fisheries can do. In the meantime when the old laws which are still in place are broken, the police are the ones to call. Since the police station is right next door to Shell Beach, they are the ones we should all turn to when laws are being broken in that area. In no way, did i suggest or insinuate that the police were not doing their job when I spoke to the Caribarena reporter yesterday.
The officer I spoke with clearly knew the law and what was going on and immediately dispatched someone to the area. The CD plates may have had something to do with them getting away with the crimes, but that is understanding to me. For the record, I have no complaint against the police when it comes to marine fisheries management at all, and I will be even more impressed when one of these guys gets locked up.

It is mindboggling that the marine conservationist appeared not to appreciate the responsibilitie s of the Minister of Agriculture; functions of enforcer of the FISHERIES ACT NO.10 OF 1990, Chief Fisheries Officer and the Fisheries Committee.
It is instructive to note the following:

Section 22 states "...No person shall take, sell, purchase or have in his posssession "...ANY IMMATURE CONCH." Subsection 2 states "...The Minister may by Notice publish in the Gazette declare any period as "...CLOSED SEASON FOR CONCH."

It was common knowledge that certain groups have been accused of illegally interfering with the marine resources (fish stocks) whether at ponds or the sea, yet some have found it expedient in laying blame on members of the local constabulary for the apparent impotency of others.

Even if Conservationsts weree instrumental in securing "...EVIDENCE" they would still have to contend with Section 28 that TENMAN may wish to provide.

Mr. PM you're known by the friends you keep...the Chinese is you friends and they allegedly tiefing we conch, lobster, jobs and everything else..You xxxf too?

Oh boy more shame and embar**ment pour pun poor

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse and it is the duty of an immigrant to know the laws of a country in which he resides. Most Cell phones have cameras so I will suggest that any one who witnesses these activities take pictures. That will be irrefutable evidence which can be handed over to the police. We will then have to insist that something be done.

The Antiguan(s) who witness this activity and did not make a citizens arrest,
should have been arrested on the spot. The Chinese are like locust destroy
everything in their path. Should we now call them the locust people?

A bit of advice for the future. Next time, take a photo of the culprits. If you don't have a standard camera, use your cell phone. Record the event and turn the image over to the Police. Then we will see if the law will take its course.

While I appreciate the developmental assistance provided by China, I am fed up with the behaviour of their citizens, who have no respect for our laws. Time to put things right.