Did You Get Your Fish for Lent?

‘Tis that time of year again when Christians, and anyone else who loves fish, make that trip to the fish market and pay a few dollars more per pound of fish, all in keeping with the practice that goes with Lent – make a sacrifice for the forty days and eat fish on Fridays. So on Good Friday, a great number of people will be eating their fish, which meant that today, they were out buying those fish, and the fishermen were there to accommodate. News Five’s Marion Ali was also there to get that story and filed this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Whatever type of fish you prefer, you could get it today. The fish market off Vernon Street in Belize City was buzzing as boats rolled in with fresh catches and fishermen placed their prices. Harry Leng was one of them.

 

Harry Leng, Fisherman

“I have kingfish, I have barracuda, snapper, a few little small grouper like Jimmy Hines and stuff like that, and some grunt, but most of the other fish dehn gone already. But the only problem with it, whenever this time comes around, it’s hard to get them.”

 

Marion Ali

“Really? I wonder why that is.”

 

Harry Leng

“I guess because they feel the Easter, and dehn probably know say people want eat them up so dehn disappear.”

 

Marion Ali

“The fish them smart, eh?”

 

At this time of year, the prices of fish soar because fish is in high demand. And they will also cost you by the type you want to eat. But Harry Leng says he’ll work with your budget.

 

Harry Leng

“This is the time when you’re playing with the price.”

 

Marion Ali

“Aha, okay, but I’ve heard your prices are $7, $8, $9, $10?”

 

Harry Leng

“$10. Yeah. Some people sell it for $12 and all that stuff, but I don’t go that high. I try to work with the people.” 

 

Marion Ali

“Okay, so I could come out here and get wa pound ah fish for $7. What would I get?”

 

Harry Leng

“If you get a pound a fish fi $7, I’d probably give you this size here. Normally these would sell for $5 but right now it’s $7. Even deh lee one ya I wa sell fi $5. I always work with whoever comes.”

 

The type of fish you buy is also significant because of the way you can prepare it, based on its texture. Devon Orosco says he will take home snappers to fry.

 

Devon Orosco, Cook

“For me, the reason why I like it da because I feel like it tastes better than the rest of the snappers, red snapper. And da da twa fish weh rare, you don’t really catch it like that. I wudda just half fry it, but put it with white rice or just stew it down or what’s not, yoh dig or mek wa soup outta it or fish tea.”

 

This Lenten season has provided fish cleaner, Shantel with a new means of income.

 

Voice of: Shantel 

“I mi deh under the market di sit down and I say, you know what, better I get up and help, clean to. I see everybody di mek deh one, two, soh I step up and say I wa mek mines to same way.”

 

Marion Ali

“You find that around Lent and Easter, yoh mek more?

Shantel

“This is my first time.”

 

Marion Ali

“Oh, wow. Did it take you long to learn how to do that?”

 

Shantel

“No ma’am.”

 

Marion Ali

“But it comes with its risks, right, because you could get hurt.”

 

Shantel

“Yes ma’am, and then the bone could juck up yoh and stay eena yoh nails and thing.”

 

Marion Ali

“Has that happened to you yet?”

 

Shantel 

“No, ma’am, not yet so far, praise God.”

 

If you didn’t get your fish in time for Good Friday, the fishermen and the cleaners will be out again on Holy Saturday, when the prices are expected to also be back to normal. Marion Ali for News Five.