Curfew has fishermen in Toco “struggling”

Even though most Toco residents welcome the recently implemented curfew restrictions in the area taking place under the current State of Emergency, a handful of them— mainly fishermen—say their sole way of earning a living has been negatively impacted upon by the decision.

But even though this may be so, those who said they have been affected agreed that it was “better to suffer a bit right now and prosper later” than to never prosper at all.

During the unveiling of the Toco Lighthouse Enhancement Project, which took place on Monday September 19 at Galera Point, some residents expressed their view on the imposition of the extended curfew restrictions.

Some residents said they had knowledge of guns and drugs being brought into and out of this country by way of the waters off the Toco shoreline, which separate Trinidad from Tobago.

“I don’t have any problem with the  curfew because I know for a fact that guns and drugs would be coming into  this country in large amounts almost on a daily basis,” said one resident who did not want to be identified. “It is a good thing they are doing, and I think Toco should have been under curfew from the beginning (of the State of Emergency),” he added.

Fisherman Conrad Le Blanc said he earned a living through fishing, but  now that the curfew has been implemented in Toco and moreso out at sea, he said he was now struggling to earn money to take care of his family.

“Well in Toco, most people would be inside by 9 or 10 (p.m.), so it would not really affect them. The ones who are being affected the most are the fishermen. I make a living by fishing, but now it really really hard for me, but what I could say? The government trying to make the country safer so we just have to take it for a while,” said Le Blanc. He said he also had knowledge of guns and drugs being brought into the country through Toco.

In his keynote address during the launch of the Toco Lighthouse Enhancement Project, Tourism Minister Dr Rupert Griffith said the curfew had become necessary because over the past two weeks, the incidence of crime had been elevating in the area.

“We are inviting families from all over Trinidad and Tobago to come visit the lighthouse. The Toco and Sangre Grande police will ensure that when families come to visit here they are safe. In due course, Toco will be one of the safest places in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Griffith.