Fisherfolk at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex could have access to a fully operational ice machine within days, as the government continues efforts to maintain the ageing equipment while working towards its eventual replacement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries Santia Bradshaw said on Wednesday.
Ice being sprayed into boxes. (Photo Credit: McAllister Hunt / St. Lucia Times)
Bradshaw joined officials from the Market Division on a tour of markets including Millie Ifill at Weston, Paynes Bay, Berinda Cox at Oistins, Speightstown and Half Moon Fort.
Jason Best Click Engineering, Minister Santia Bradshaw, Acting Manager Bridgetown Complex Michelle Wiggins. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham / Barbados TODAY)
While the government was undertaking large-scale projects, day-to-day maintenance issues were also affecting fisherfolk, including general maintenance, cleanliness, replacing tiles, leaks and other repairs around the markets, she told reporters.
But she identified the lack of ice as a major issue affecting fisherfolk: “This very old piece of equipment is over 40 years that we have the equipment here at this Bridgetown location. It goes down. The reality is that we have to then constantly be doing repairs to this piece of equipment. I would have stated earlier that our intention is to replace one of the pieces of equipment that allows for the ice machine to be able to work.”
The government had intended to replace one of the pieces of equipment needed for the ice machine, but the age of the wider system continued to cause problems despite a new compressor being brought in, she said.
Efforts had also been made to strengthen the technical team responsible for maintaining the equipment, she added.
“One of the things that we looked at was first enhancing the team, the technical team that is outfitted here at Bridgetown. We recognise that a lot of the older people who would have serviced the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, many of them have passed on. Just recently, we lost Mr Boyce, who served this institution for a number of years.”
The firm Click Engineering had also been brought in to assist with the repairs. Managing Director Jason Best, who was tasked with repairing the ice machine, outlined the work being done.
Best said: “We have two systems. System number one, we have an issue with the oil pressure. It’s a new compressor, old pipes, so all the orifices keep being restricted. So we have to do extensive oil change. We have to change filters and change strainers, and for that we got that up and running yesterday. Right now, presently, system number one is operating.”
System Two was more complicated because the compressor had been rebuilt and needed to be recommissioned because of leaks in the major shut-off valves, he added.
“The system is very old, and we tried our best to reseat the valves, but that was unsuccessful. So we’re in the process of replacing these valves right now. But once we replace these valves and that will happen in about a day or two, we got the welders on board to install some new valves. Once that is done, we will put this system back in operation. And for again, like another two days, system number two should be up and running.”
Bradshaw said plans had been underway for the past few months to replace the aged machinery, but the government first had to identify the specifications and secure financing.
“We have to basically identify the specifications, and then you have to obviously get the financing in order to be able to procure.”
The government was also evaluating the other equipment at the facility to ensure the system could operate reliably, she said.
“We also want to make sure that we do a full evaluation of all of the pieces of equipment, from the rake to the scales to everything that is used at the site, to make sure that when we replace that machine, everything systematically is also working as well.”
Bradshaw also addressed concerns raised by fisherfolk and vendors about access to ice at the Bridgetown complex.
She said arrangements were already in place with ice makers Wolverine and Glacier Ice to provide ice, although the process could be more cumbersome for fisherfolk who needed to transport the ice to their boats.
Acting Manager of the Bridgetown Fisheries Market Michelle Wiggins outlined the process for requesting ice and said the machine had been down for three weeks.
Fisherfolk requiring ice could contact the Fisheries Division office through her or the officer on duty using the WhatsApp account established for the purpose, she said.
“We collect that information to say what boats they want, how much ice they want previously, we had an arrangement, and we still do have an arrangement with Wolverine, that they can go directly to Wolverine and they can order their ice from Wolverine to get their ice to their boat.”
Assistance was also available to help fisherfolk transport the ice to their boats, Wiggins said.
“Procedures were made to also use some CV workers from our ministry to help assist them to load their boats. So all they have to do is indicate when they want and an arrangement has been made that has been continuous.”
She said an arrangement was also in place with Glacial Ice, under which fishers could tell the Fisheries Division how much ice they required and the ministry would place the order and cover its transport.
Of the 15 registered boats that could potentially require ice, four had confirmed that they needed it and provided dates, while two others were still expected to submit their information.
Acting Chief Fisheries Officer Christopher Parker revealed that the government was in the process of acquiring a 40-foot containerised ice machine.
The project is being funded by Japan and managed through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Coastal Resilience Project.
“One will be positioned here at the Bridgetown Fishing Complex, and we’re still looking to see if it is possible under that programme to purchase another one for Oistins, but that is uncertain.”
Parker said the machine would produce up to 20 tonnes of ice per day, augmenting the existing supply and providing a fail-safe should another disruption affect ice production.
The machine would supply ice to vendors and, to some degree, fishing boats.
(LG)
