 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2008 : 19:58:18
|
Bakau Fishermen Complain Of Life Jackets
By Isatou Bittaye
The fishermen at Bakau seaside, in an interview with this reporter, complained about the use of life jackets for fishing expedition.
Speaking to this reporter, Assan Jeng, a fisherman, said their main constraint is the use of life jackets for fishing expedition. He said the Fire Service Rescue-At-Sea team always forces them to put on life jackets before going out at sea. He added that sometimes if they forget to put on their life jackets the fire service rescue-at-sea team would detain them for hours at their station.
Jeng complained that they do not feel comfortable by putting on a life jacket whilst working at sea. He said that the high cost of fuel also impact on their business because they use thirty litres of fuel per expedition and a litre cost D36.00; that they also stay for long hours in the sea to catch fish and the sea waves also disturb them. He said that they sold their fish caught at the seaside to the fish mongers (Bana Bana) at a price of D1,000, per basket, for cat fish, and D2,000, per basket, for lady fish. He noted that the price of fish depend on the availability of fish at sea; that if plenty of fish is caught then they sell at a lesser price.
Another fisherman, Abu Janneh, explained that the sea waves disturb them at sea and that if the weather becomes too cold their canoes use to capsize. He said that their cold room and ice plant is in a poor condition with only one engine, which cannot serve all the fisherfolks. He said sometimes if they catch plenty of fish they don’t have people to buy all the fish and the remaining will be thrown away as a result of lack of storage room. He however added that although their business is faring smoothly with little profits it is the cost of fuel that is very expensive. He explained that often four people do embarked on an expedition and they sometimes go beyond Gambia to catch fish. Abu said that the high cost of fuel also impacts on their business, noting that they sometimes use thirty-forty litres of fuel on one expedition.
Modou Gaye, also a fisherman, said the big canoes and boats always cut their nets at sea which is a real problem. He said the life jackets being forced on them to put on before going out to sea is also a problem to them. Modou explained that sometimes they don’t see enough fish mongers to buy their fish and that they sometimes give them their fish on credit basis. He said the fuel cost is also expensive and that they consume a lot of fuel for an expedition.
When contacted, the PRO at the Bakau Fire Station, Ms. Haddy Bah, said the use of life jacket for fishing is a law. She added that the use of life jacket is for the safety of the fisherman at sea; that the law was put in place as a result of many fatal accidents that occur at sea; that the use of lifejackets applies to everybody traveling in canoes or boats and not only fishermen. The PRO concluded that the main reason behind the use of the life jacket at sea is for the safety and protection of the people, especially fishermen.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 009/2008, 21 – 22 January 2008
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2008 : 20:32:12
|
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Bakau Fishermen Complain Of Life Jackets
By Isatou Bittaye
The fishermen at Bakau seaside, in an interview with this reporter, complained about the use of life jackets for fishing expedition.
........ He said the Fire Service Rescue-At-Sea team always forces them to put on life jackets before going out at sea. He added that sometimes if they forget to put on their life jackets the fire service rescue-at-sea team would detain them for hours at their station.
When contacted, the PRO at the Bakau Fire Station, Ms. Haddy Bah, said the use of life jacket for fishing is a law. She added that the use of life jacket is for the safety of the fisherman at sea; that the law was put in place as a result of many fatal accidents that occur at sea; that the use of lifejackets applies to everybody traveling in canoes or boats and not only fishermen.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 009/2008, 21 – 22 January 2008
well done Bakau Fire Service (rescue)
Foroyaa should be fined for writing such a Stupid article.and the editor flogged for publishing it. Ms Bah of the Fire Service was actually approach to explain!!
maybe journalist should be made to read all the Laws of The Gambia.
rather than highlight the state of oocupational health in The Gambia and what should be done to improve it, Foroyaa is writing against it. |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2008 : 21:40:25
|
Investigations of shipwrecks have shown that the main dangers a shipwrecked person is exposed to are cold, fear, lack of water and lack of solid food.
The investigations showed as well that fear constitutes a less essential danger, and the cause of this fear is very often lack of knowledge and confidence in rescue equipment which any vessel should be endowed with according to international and national provisions.
Life jackets have to be able to raise an exhausted or an unconscious person's face up above the water and keep the body laying tilted backwards off vertical position.
Furthermore it's required that the buoyant material is to be placed in a way that it can turn the body from whatsoever position in the water.
I wonder if most of the life jackets in the canoes between Banjul to Barra fulfill this requirement. Enforcing the use of life jackets will definitely save a lot of lives. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2008 : 17:36:58
|
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
............... Enforcing the use of life jackets will definitely save a lot of lives.
this is the line, language, direction that Foroyaa should take rather than entertain people who dont know what is good for them. if the fire service did nothing and fold their arms they would be criticised. the little efforts they do should be recognised.
occupational health is a major issue in developing countries. another example is the boom in the contruction industry, cement is loaded/unloaded by men carrying it on their heads. in doing so they inhale kilos of cement dust which will have long term health effects. you just have to look into their eyes and see how RED it is.!!
a good journal/newspaper should raise such public health/awareness issues and allocate the right space on their paper to it.
in the end i think the text was more about the low catch or poor sales than safety. the heading and the topic dont match. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2008 : 19:13:00
|
If the Fire and Rescue service in the Gambia turned up at a fire with a fire appliance full of water instead of being empty that would be good as well!!
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2008 : 19:23:58
|
Njucks and Modou you both made some valid points. The issue of Health & Safety issue needs to be highlighted further. Foroyaa dedicate a few pages to educate people about the importance of wearing Life Jackets, Safety Helmets, Food and Hygiene, Fire prevention etc.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:09:40
|
toubab1020,
What has your comment to do with topic? If the fishermen do not use life jackets they loose their lives only. Is the fire and rescue service responsible of giving them life jackets? This should be no1.priority for the fishermen if they value their lives. This is not government responsibility. Government can only controll that the law is obeyed. As they have explained of disturbance at sea during work, I would make it clear to them that it is a must to wear life jackets while at sea. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 12:27:19
|
OK of course the fire service isn't responsible for giving life jackets.I was talking about the way to save lives,in other words if you havn't got a life jacket and you start to sink in your boat then the life jacket may save your life,therefore if you take water to a fire it may well save someone elses life
If you don't take water to a fire how are you going to put it out?,a fire engine is a vehicle with a large tank designed to carry water and a powerful hose,yes designed to put out fires and yes to save lives,just the same as a life jacket does.
That was the reason for my posting, ways to save lives.and yes to do with water. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:17:13
|
toubab1020,
Thanks for your clarification. Now I understand |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2008 : 15:25:54
|
Sorry if it was unclear before. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
