The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided an update on the joint efforts underway towards the repatriation of the thirty-four Jamaican fishermen from Colombia, who were allegedly fishing illegally in Colombian waters.
A video has been in circulation on social media, in which the fishermen claimed that they have been in Colombia for weeks under trying conditions, after being detained by the Colombian authorities.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, who spoke to the matter in the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on November 4, indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade was informed by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on the 19th of October, that a Jamaican fishing vessel, registered under the name Hope-On, had been detained in Colombian waters by the Colombian authorities. A total of thirty-six persons were reported to be on board the vessel.
On the 20th of October, the Ministry enlisted the assistance of Jamaica’s Embassy in Bogota to ascertain details of the incident.
The Colombian authorities stated that 6,430 kilograms of parrot fish were found in the vessel and that it was established that a total of 41 persons were on board, 34 of whom are Jamaican.
Less than 24 hours after that statement was made in the Senate, the Foreign Affairs Ministry issued an update advising that by Friday, November 4, arrangements had been put in place on the Jamaican side for the transfer to take place on Saturday, November 5. The Colombian authorities however requested additional time at their end and have now proposed November 12.
In noting the progress made, the Minister advised that the Colombian and Jamaican governments will conduct a joint operation to return the crew of the vessel to Jamaica, which will result in a meeting between the countries’ coast guards for the transfer of the crew, at an agreed point on the high seas.
Despite welcoming the imminent safe return of the fishermen, the Minister had a word of caution to those who fish outside of Jamaica’s territorial waters.
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