Nov. 15, 2003 – Sen. Lorraine L. Berry has called a meeting for 10 a.m. Saturday at Hull Bay Hideaway to plan a fund raiser for two North Side fisherman who lost their fishing boat and were levied heavy fines for fishing in British Virgin Islands waters with an expired fishing license. (See "BVI fines two fisherman $11K and takes their boat" )
Berry has taken up their cause in the absence of any other official support for the brothers, Rick and Jason Berry.
But some V.I. residents have expressed outrage at what they felt was an unfair and too severe punishment when BVI residents routinely fish in U.S. waters and come to the U.S.V.I. to shop and party without checking in at customs.
In a letter to the Source Kevin Weatherbee called for a boycott of the B.V.I. (See U.S.V.I. should respond in kind to B.V.I.)
Berry has written to B.V.I. chief minister Orland Smith asking for compassion in the case of the Berry brothers, who she has made clear are not her relatives. (See Sen. Berry asks B.V.I. for leniency to fishermen)
However, she's not waiting for compassion, instead Berry is spearheading a fundraiser to be held at Hull Bay on Nov. 29.
In a release sent Friday evening Berry asked that " all those who wish to show support for the brothers" show up Saturday morning to plan the event, which will include food, beverages and the Sea Breeze Band.
The brothers, she said, " have suffered enormous financial hardship."
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