Local and international anglers will compete at the event set for October 13-17.

Food For the Poor Jamaica last week got a big catch of a $2-million donation from last year’s 62nd Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament.

The Sir Henry Morgan Angling Association and title sponsor of the event, Sterling Asset Management, presented the cheque to Food for the Poor at last Tuesday’s (October 6) launch of the 63rd edition of the tournament, set for the Ole’ Marina from October 13-17.

The launch was held at One Hundred Restaurant & Gaming Lounge, 100 Hope Road in St. Andrew, with the tournament seeing anglers from Jamaica and overseas compete for bragging rights.

The donation represents prize money forfeited by sponsors and anglers at last year’s tournament, which had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Melissa. Team ‘Safe Passage’ won that staging, releasing nine of the 12 marlins caught.

Use of donation funds

Development and Marketing Manager at Food For the Poor, Marsha Burrell-Rose, who spoke at the launch, said the funds will be used to equip at least 100 Portland fisherfolk with a solar-powered freezer container for their catch. 

“We cannot always approach development by simply giving people things. It’s about sustainability. It’s about getting our communities working, and that’s what we’re doing. So when you help us, we are helping the people of Jamaica. We’re going into communities that people don’t even know exist,” Burrell-Rose explained.

With this donation, she noted that the benefactor organisation will be able to help 100 fisherfolk. The 42nd Canoe Tournament runs alongside the main event, with up to 60 canoes and crews of three fisherfolk.

Sterling leads a strong line-up of partners this year, including Premier Private Equity, Jamaica Vacations, Best Dressed Chicken and KFC, Worthy Park, Yamaha, National Baking Company, Lillan Ltd., L.S. Duhaney & Co., Chas E. Ramson, Kingston Electrical, Pure National Ice, PingLinks Cellular, Double Seven Energy Drink, Café Blue, Carlisa, Ink Addict, Caribbean Glass Co. and Goodlife.

Thankful for well-done teamwork

Chairman of the Sir Henry Morgan Angling Association, Maxim Rochester, is thankful for his Board, sponsors and the anglers, who generously agreed to forgo their prizes so that the funds could instead support people and communities affected by the hurricane. For him, “it is a meaningful gesture, and one that speaks to the spirit of this tournament and the people who continue to support it.”

Sterling, which marks its 25th anniversary this year, has backed the tournament for more than a decade. Toni-Ann Neita-Elliott, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing at Sterling, commented,  “We continue to support this event because great sporting traditions bring people together, create memories, and strengthen communities. That sense of community was very evident at last year’s tournament because we raised $2 million for Food For the Poor, and that will help to support communities that are still rebuilding after the hurricane.”

She emphasised that every marlin is released, so that there are still marlin for the next generation of anglers to pursue. “That kind of long-term thinking is something we certainly understand” she said, observing that “Sterling has been around for 25 years, but this tournament has been around considerably longer. Clearly, we know a good long-term investment when we see one.”