Fish ‘fit the bill’

?DENIS?KELLMAN?says the fishing community has played a major role in keeping the cost of living down.
Kellman, who played a key role as Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM in the fishing talks with Trinidad and?Tobago, made this assertion in the House of Assembly yesterday during the debate on the annual Estimates.
“It has been the fishing folk of Barbados that ensured the cost of living remains at a particular level, because, years ago, flying fish would have been selling at $40, $50 and sometimes even $100 a 100. This season, they started as low as $40 a 100.
“Fisherfolk have ensured that the catches are right so that the prices would have been right for the people of Barbados.
“For example, we have not yet reached Easter and you can get dolphin at $4 a pound,” Kellman said.
 “The fisherfolk of  Barbados have ensured that the prices of protein are at such a low level that sometimes when I hear people talking about the high cost of living, I wonder what they are talking about,” he said.
Kellman said the high cost of living could only be related to the high cost of imported goods and the high cost of where they shop.
The long-standing Member of Parliament (MP)?for St Lucy, said the Government would be looking at a pilot project involving Consett Bay, Weston, and Half Moon Fort, for fishermen to have adequate facilities when they come in from sea.
“We have to understand that when the fisherfolk come in, they are able to bring their catches to market in a safe and healthy way. We also have to ensure they are marketing their produce right,” he said.
Kellman said it was important that every landing site have the facilities to dispose of the offal in a sanitary manner. (MK)