Published on: Sunday, January 06, 2013 |
He said this in response to a suggestion by City Hall when Hiew suggested a small jetty be constructed at the back of the KK fish market to provide an easy way for the local fishermen to unload their catch.
"At the moment, these small fishing boats are unloading their catch from the small boats over the sea wall and through a hole in the fence.
There is no proper landing point or jetty anywhere to be found.
"This job is risky and the chance of them falling into the sea with their catch is high during rough seas.
"The fishermen want the jetty to be built and a gate opening for their access to the fish market.
They wouldn't want to unload their catch to the Safma grounds for fear that they will be charged."
Hiew said the second reason is that the Safma jetty is congested and crowded with big fishing boats unloading fishes, uploading supplies, refuelling and pumping in fresh water.
"If small fishing boats are squeezing in between, what will happen?
This is a bad suggestion from City Hall.
"The fishermen also asked, who was going to carry the baskets of fishes from the Safma jetty to the central fish market for them?"
Hiew suggested that the best solution is for the Government to build a small jetty for the local fishermen operating in small fishing boats.
"The Government should try its best to solve the problems of the people.
"Besides, the passenger jetty next to the KK fish market where passenger boats ferry people to the islands is falling into very bad shape and soon it will not be serviceable."
Hiew urged the authorities to come in to make repairs before the jetty falls to pieces.
