The Fishing Cooperative and Kooperativa Nazzjonali tas-Sajd yesterday donated a total of e16,000 to the fund for the families of the victims of the Simshar tragedy, money which will be added to funds collected during a 30-hour hook-tying marathon which took place at Marsaxlokk yesterday.
Anthony Carabott, president of the Kooperativa Nazzjonali tas-Sajd, decided to set up a 30-hour marathon, which started on Saturday afternoon at 4pm and ended last night at 10 pm to collect money for the families of the Simshar victims. Four people died when the boat exploded, with one fisherman being rescued a week after the incident.
For 30 hours, Mr Carabott, who was also joined by other fishermen, tied hooks to the fishing lines. The money collected from the sale of these hooks will be placed in the fund.
Yesterday morning, Rural Affairs and Resources Minister George Pullicino stopped by to visit Mr Carabott and the fishermen.
Mr Pullicino, who was greeted by Ray Bugeja, president of the Fisheries Cooperative, was presented with two donations from the fishing cooperatives – e15,000 from the Kooperativa Nazzjonali tas-Sajd, and e1,000 from the Fishing Cooperative.
Another e23,200 were collected during a 12-hour fundraising marathon on a local television station. Mr Pullicino passed on the money to the fund.
The money collected yesterday and during the TV fundraising marathon will be placed in a fund, which was set up by the government and the two fishing cooperatives.
On Mr Carabott’s request, Minister Pullicino presented Mark Bugeja, who had found Simon Bugeja alive a week after his boat had exploded, with the first hook he had tied as a memento of the fund raising marathon.
The minister spoke about the close sense of solidarity in the fishing community.
“When Simon was found, it was not an easy moment for his family as they were grieving the loss of his father and worried about the fate of Theo while overjoyed that Simon was found,” said Mr Pullicino.
In fact, he added, “it was one of the hardest moments for me.”
Mr Pullicino said that the Maltese do not appreciate the difficult task and experiences Maltese fishermen go through to provide the Maltese with fish.
The minister announced that in October, embellishment works will commence on the Marsaxlokk promenade.
Furthermore, he added, in agreement with the fishermen, the government will set up a monument dedicated to all Maltese fishermen on the promenade.
After the presentation, Mr Pullicino went to visit Simon Bugeja.