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Every year for the past 10 years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) encourages us to recognize June 25th as the International Day of the Seafarer. This year it is celebrated under the theme Seafarers are Key Workers. This could not have been a more appropriate theme as the world is virtually under lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic.
With almost 90 percent of the world’s goods transported via shipping, according to IMO’s estimates, the ship workers are particularly hard hit by COVID. Many Caribbean islanders depend on shipping (including cruise ship work) and related industries to earn a living.
This adds to the already existing problem caused by the suspected climate change phenomenon of sargassum invasion in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea that is presenting huge problems for Caribbean fishermen, impacting their work for at least 6 months of the year since its excessive growth was observed in 2011. Sargassum prevents fisher folks from seafaring, destroying boats, entangling propellers and nets.
According to the US-based Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), the cruise industry contributes a total of $2 billion each year to the Caribbean. Many of these workers are on the frontline as infections are known to spread between ships as crew members transfer from ship to ship during such pandemic outbreaks as is presently transpiring. And, outbreak may spread to families and others as workers travel on cruise ships between countries.
Although small when scaled by wider regions, fisheries play an important role in proving employment opportunities and high protein caloric intake for the local populations. Fishing and sea-faring are critical for countries such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad where fishing export is vital and sea-faring is the traditional way of life.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made life very difficult for Caribbean seafaring workers. Many face difficult working conditions and uncertainties with repatriation and port access, as are the recent cases highlighting the plight of Caribbean cruise ship workers reported in the Miami Herald.
Today is not only important in recognizing the invaluable work of seafarers, it is also vital in bringing global attention to the issues affecting their work and lives, such as super-exploitation, infectious diseases, and sea-faring piracy. We echo the IMO call on governments to “develop policies that lead to fair treatment of seafarers at ports, and asks private ship companies and owners to provide their employees proper facilities and comforts while they are at sea.”
Big Drum Nation recognizes the important work of sea-farers and highlight the heroism of Bequia-born (Vincentian) Hugh Mulzac in this month’s issue (June) dedicated to the historic contributions of Caribbean peoples in the United States as an example of the heroic legacy of Caribbean sea-faring workers.
Row Fisherwoman Row!
Row Fisherman Row!
#SeafarersAreKeyWorkers
Martin P. Felix (for Big Drum Nation)