Those Jamaican fishermen – they arrived in Toledo in December with their fishing boats and that created a public uproar. But the boats are gone and now they have set up a processing plants ready to export fish, conch, lobster, sea cucumbers, fish and farmed tilapia. Except they haven't got an export license. It's a dicey situation for government because the Jamaicans no longer have their joint venture relationship with Punta Gorda's Rio Grande Co-Op. But as we found out Rio-Grande and the Jamaicans' PG fisheries Company have a working relationship. That's one of the plusses for this project that is fighting for maximum approval.

We pick up our story where we left it yesterday as PG Mayor Floyd Lino was talking about fat fish and starving people.

Floyd Lino, Mayor of Punta Gorda Town
"I believe that the time has come where if we are going to develop in a sustainable manner we need to balance the environmental development with the economic development of our people because fish is living and they are getting fat but people are starving."

And that is a sentiment that the company is harping on.

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"You know what I like about this crowd? The last meeting that we had, September 9, it was a lot of expatriates. White folks. This is Belizean people. You understand, this is bona-fide, genuine, Belizean, grassroots people, who really need economic growth in their community. These are the people who want their bread to be buttered. And these are the people who we are bringing development and economic upliftment to. Not the white folks. Not those people who are living big life."

But the problem isn't with those expatriates he referred to. It's with government, which has not issued an export permit to PG Fisheries Company. Make no mistake, this event and the unveiling of this plant, is a deliberate public relations strategy to force government to give that license.

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"We have made our application to the relevant authority and I know it takes some time. It takes a process. We are awaiting a response from the relevant authority. And I beleive that it will be favourable because the needs of the people will dictate the response of the government."

And the people – those who were there at least - say they need this facility to be fully operational.

Sheldon Lambey, St. Vincent Block Youth Group
"We would like for the thing to go through so the government could give these guys their license so they could purchase "the fill." Because we find out a lot of times that we go fishing and we end up at the market whole day trying to sell our fish and we don't get through with all our fish."

Victor Jacobs, Former Chairman, Rio Grande Co-Op
"Personally, like I said, I did not agree with the Jamaicans and so bringing out their own vessels and their own fishermen because then I do not agree with that. But when it comes to the development part of purchasing the fish and things like that, then I am in full support of that. I think that's a great idea for a community like Punta Gorda, that wants jobs."

Jersh Gordon, Fisherman Association, Monkey River
" I find that this system is very good for us because we are all fishermen and we need marketing for our fish and these fishermen have made an arrangement that they are not going to catch fish, they are going to buy fish. And we don't have no kind of marketing for our fish, so by these guys doing what we require by catching the limits size of fishes and doing what we require, I think I am in full support of these guys."

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"The people are hurting. They are suffering. They need jobs. And as a result, a lot of young people were here today. And because they are showing their support, because they are desparately in need of jobs. And that's what we are here to do, provide jobs. We are not here to fish. We are not here to go out there and rape the banks. All we are here to do is buy fish from the local fishermen, licensed fishermen. And sell fish into the market."

Osbourne says they are ready to start processing now.

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"So far we have invested over $500,000 US dollars. And we have trained over 35 people in food safety. The plant has gotten BAHA certification and therefore the people are clamouring for jobs. Right now, we are processing sea cucumber, storing sea cucumber for the Rio Grande Fishermen Co-op. Previously, they could not have done that without us because there was no form of facility in southern Belize that could assist in the processing of fishery products."

"We envision processing fish, conch, lobster and also Tilapia because I realize that there is an opportunity for Tilapia fishing and that is a gold mine waiting to be discovered."

And also waiting to be discovered are those fish stocks in the blue, beyond the reef. Rio Grande Co-op – which was represented at the head table says it wants to explore that with Osborn's group.

Armando Martinez, Vice-Chair, Rio Grande Fishing Co-Op
"The whole idea here is Rio Grande has been behind this to increase the fisherman lifestyle. If we have the resources that we could tap into then that's the route that we should be taking. One of the things that people need to consider is that these reserves that are there in place, are there in place for a reason, for us to get into deep sea fishing would definitely even contribute a whole lot to these reserves. Because then the fisherfolk that are actually focusing on the reserves for their livelihood can now move on to a different area, giving it enough time."

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"Beyond the barrier reef, there is a virgin territory. Sustainable fishing also means to explore other areas that fishing has not yet been taking place in."

But let's face it the reason why Osbourne and his group are here is because Jamaica's fish-stocks are significantly depleted. So what's to stop that from happening here?

Derek Osbourne, PG Fisheries Company
"The fact that we have seen what took place in Jamaica puts us in a better position also to give advice and to not allow history to repeat itself. So from day one, we will be asking fishermen to conduct their fishing in a sustainable way."

Whether that is just spin or policy is hardly the issue right now. The question is that with the popular support this project is generating, can government afford to resist it?

The PG Fisheries company has already processed sea cucumbers for Rio Grande Co-op. The co-op has said it will purchase fish for 3 dollars a pound from fishermen.

Now what about that export permit? Well, like we said at the top, it's dicey because the Fisheries Department doesn't want to license an organization that will be running parallel to the Belizean co-op which could possibly undermine that co-op. So, a meeting has been set for Tuesday between the Fisheries Department and the Executive Management of the Rio Grande Co-op.