The Association of Fisherboat Owners of Puerto Plata has requested government assistance to protest what they call the persecution, indiscriminate arrest and repression of their members. They are protesting that 148 fishermen have been arrested on high seas.
The Bahamas authorities claim they were fishing in their waters, the local fishermen say they were in international waters. The Association says that the Bahamas authorities only attest to the arrest of 124 fishermen.
Legal advisor for the Association, José Carlos González requested intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Relations to stop what they call the persecution of Dominican fishermen by the Bahamian authorities. They are calling for the release from arrest of the crews of Paul, Digna Rosa and Chiqui fisherboats. He denied the crew confronted the Bahamians with firearms. He said Dominican fisherboats are checked by the local authorities for firearms prior to leaving port.
González complained that the Dominican Republic is the only country in the world that does not have laws that protect territorial waters.
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Listin Diario
22 October 2018
