Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit continued the consultations with stakeholders for advancing plans for the operationalisation of the Marigot Fisheries Complex as an official port of entry in Marigot on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The meeting was held with fisheries that focused mainly on their role in the initiative and how fishing activities and port operations can successfully coexist at the facility.
PM Skerrit assured the fishers that the port operations will not negatively impact their livelihoods or disrupt their regular activities. Instead, this is intended to create new opportunities while supporting the continued growth and development of the fishing sector in Marigot and the wider northeast.
This recently held meeting by PM Skerrit has assured fishermen in Marigot of government’s commitment that operations are underway at the Marigot Bay port, while also addressing concerns raised by members of the fishing community. The Prime Minister himself met with fishermen to discuss the operationalisation of the facility and the need for coexistence between port activities and traditional fishing operations.
Upon meeting Prime Minister Skerrit stated that this engagement will be discussed in two parts. One – has to do with the operations of the fisheries complex and how it affects the fishermen business. How and what are the challenges they are facing at the fisheries complex and what are their recommendations and how they would suggest those are addressed, so that it can enhance their business and operations coming out of the Marigot Fisheries Complex.
And the Second part – is the operationalisation of the Marigot Bay as a port of entry in Dominica, which is an official legal port of entry in Dominica.
Prime Minister Skerrit also acknowledged the significant investment made in the facility and stressed the importance of finding practical solutions that would allow both the port and fishermen to operate effectively.
Dr. Skerrit said that it cost a lot of money to maintain this facility. The fisherman operating their white space, their boat prep shop, they have a fish landing area, they have a boat where to place, they can utilise their boats and so the idea is that the fishermen have to sincerely look at how they can co-exist and see how they can hatch out a 4,000 ft or 2,000 ft or 1,000 ft from the several acres that are there.
He stated that they want to look at it because, if down the road they can look at what they’re talking about in terms of facilities and permanent facilities and all these things. The prime minister also said that the immediate priority is to get the port operational in the shortest possible time while continuing discussions on long-term arrangements and facilities for fishermen.
According to PM Skerrit, for decades now, the people in Marigot have been advocating for this facilities’ area to become an official port of entry. And so now they are at the threshold of causing this to happen. And one has to appreciate the potential positive impact of this on the community and on the Marigot and of course on the communities of the community surrounding Marigot.
Now one of the major things, the purpose of this meeting is to share that perspective. A few of them who know about it but to share a perspective with all and to solicit their views as to how from their perspective as fishermen they see this coexisting.
This is not to displace the fishermen. This is about enhancing their operations. This is about enhancing economic opportunities and job creation and ensuring that they can have more money in their pockets.
Notably, to ensure full ownership of the process, the government has appointed a committee of Marigot residents to help determine how best to position the port for the benefit of the people of Marigot and Dominica.