Andre Kong, Director
Ministry of Agriculture - Fisheries Division

I understand that this training and awareness programme is just one component of a more comprehensive initiative being undertaken by the Montego Bay Marine Park and the fishers of Montego Bay. The key achievement of this innovative programme, is enhanced and meaningful communication and collaboration among the primary stakeholders, including my own Fisheries Division. I find it particularly pleasing and indeed encouraging to note that this excellent strategy as a means of controlling fishing effort within the Marine Park, via a permitting system, with the training of fishers as a necessary pre-condition, has the full endorsment of all the fishers - as evidenced by the very high level of participation in the training seminars.

This training and awareness building programme can be regarded as a forerunner to a larger, more comprehensive national programme that will be implemented by the fisheries division in the very near future... The experiences gained by this pre-cursor programme will be of tremendous value to my division in refining and enhancing our strategies, in delivering our series of mandatory training seminars. It is our view that the Montego Bay Marine Park, with this new experience, is a prime candidate to function as a collaborating organization that can be authorized to deliver the required training to the fishers...

When I arrived in Montego Bay a few minutes ago, I did not recognize the River Bay Fishing Complex. I was so surprised to see the tremendous transformation. This speaks volumes to me, and is indeed testament to what can be accomplished once the sheer will is there. I wish to publicly applaud the fishers of the River Bay Fishing Complex and all who contributed to its facelift, and much needed transformation.

I must recognize, congratulate and applaud the tremendous work and tireless efforts of all the staff members of the Montego Bay Marine Park. Rest assured, it has not gone unnoticed that it is indeed the excellent work of the Montego Bay Marine Park that is a significant contributing factor to the progress being made, as evidenced by the higher level of collaboration and commmunication among the fishers and the various agencies, both government and non-government alike - and indeed the stronger level of leadership and organization currently displayed by the fishers in Montego Bay.