The boat "Val d'Orge" left Concarneau [France], March 23 last, to Haiti, a caseyeur (1) of 18 meters entirely renovated and equipped by the association "Solidarité Pêche" is arrived on May 1 at Pointe-à-Pitre [Guadeloupe]. The crew of four men and women thought arrive earlier but the boat was turned back to Madeira and the Canary Islands, without being able to refuel, in addition to having been slowed five days by bad weather.

Today, the "Val d'Orge" will set sail for for a five days navigation towards its final destination: Haiti, where it will be given to the Haitian NGO the "Fondation Verte", like the 3 previous boats donated to Haiti [the Mystère, the Mercenaire, the Breizh da Viken] "These are responsible people, they will make good use", declared Jean-Pierre Coïc, founder of the association "Solidarité Pêche" in 1999.

Jean-Pierre Coïc supervises the preparations for the departure to Haiti. "We just offer me five tons of powdered milk to take on, I had to refuse [...] there is still space to move, but it's just, I must keep room for sailing". 35 tons of equipment from France,which are destined for communities in Haiti are already onboard : fishing equipment, including a stock of chains, orin and hawser, provided by the fishing port of Lorient. There are also medical supplies, such as the 34 beds provided by the Hospital of Quimper and equipment for surgery given by the emergencies of Quimper, clothing provided by nuns, school supplies collected by associations of Guadeloupe "I was asked to make a round trip to retrieve other food, but I am missing 5,000 litres of fuel that I cannot pay. I launched an appeal to the television of Guadeloupe, we'll see...".

(1) A caseyeur is a fishing boat used particularly in Britain, using traps intended among other things, to the lobster fishery.

Learn more about the association "Solidarité Pêche":

The association "Solidarité Pêche" was established in February 1999 in Concarneau (France), by Jean-Pierre Coïc an inshore fisherman. The association's objective was to retrieve fishing boats destined for scrapping, to support an association of artisanal fishermen from Haiti, APAH (Association of Haitian artisanal fisheries). Today, the boats "offered" to Haiti are delivered to a local partner of "Solidarité Solidarité", the "Fondation Verte" a Haitian NGO that owns the boats and who works among others in the field of fisheries.

The aim of "Solidarité Pêche" is not to make the assistantship, but to empower Haitian fishermen earn their life, to feed and educate their families, using fishing methods that respect the environment and resource of the island in fish. It enabled Haitian fishermen increase their income by $2 to $15 per day, "With that, they can dress, eat, care and send their children to school," said Jean-Pierre Coïc.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2512-haiti-fishing-val-d-orge-baptized-departure-next-week.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2276-haiti-fishing-the-nymphea-ready-to-go-soon.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1970-haiti-france-donation-of-a-new-fishing-boat-for-haiti.html

S/ HaitiLibre