NASSAU, Bahamas — Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield admitted yesterday Dominican poachers continue to pillage Bahamian territorial waters despite efforts to discourage the practice in that country dating back to the former Christie administration, but insisted the government’s relationship with the republic is “firm and strong”, The Tribune reported October 18.
He expressed confidence the Bahamian government’s message is resonating with these foreign officials, noting the latest detention of 124 Dominican fishermen and their “motherships” was a collaborative effort, an historic first.
While, he said, this is a sign the government is making progress, the minister encouraged Bahamian fishermen to call the relevant authorities at the sight of Dominican vessels on the high seas rather than engaging them.
His comments came as 124 Dominican fishermen were brought into the Coral Harbour Defence Force Base and then taken to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre after they fired upon marines at sea. What appeared to be thousands of pounds of fish and lobster was found on the three vessels, which were also brought to the capital yesterday.
“I believe our relationship with the Dominican Republic is firm and strong,” he said. “We have done things in the past. Formerly, the foreign minister who was in office just before me (Fred Mitchell) led a delegation to the Dominican Republic with ministerial colleagues and other technocrats to discuss this very issue of Dominican fishing in Bahamian territorial waters. http://www.tribune242.com/news/2018/oct/17/our-relationship-with-dominicans-is-strong-says/
