Close to $4m given to fisherfolk

Fisherfolk who suffered heavy losses as a result of Hurricane Beryl have so far received close to $4 million in ex gratia payments from Government.

This was revealed by Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde who said the money from “a benevolent fund” was paid to boat owners, boat captains, crew members and vendors.

Speaking during debate of the Maritime and Underwater Heritage Bill, 2024, in the House of Assembly yesterday, Forde said Government had made a determination that boat owners would receive $2 000 a month for three months; each boat captain and crew would receive $1 500 for three months in the immediate aftermath of Beryl, to bring a measure of relief in consideration of the devastating losses the fisherfolk had suffered.

He said Cabinet had also made the subsequent decision to give fish vendors a one-off payment of $1 500 which, to date, over 100 vendors had received. He added that of the more than $3 million disbursed so far, $2 750 723 was paid to the fisherfolk and $956 189 for boat repairs.

However, Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne accused the Government of being “derelict” in its duty to the fisherfolk after the Category 4 Beryl devastated the island’s fishing industry last July 1.

‘Unhappy’

“The fisherfolk of this country are not happy with the Government. They are unhappy because they believe the Government is failing to recognise them,” he charged.

He suggested Government had not completely fulfilled its promise to aid them “so that they and their families could survive”, and expressed regret that “the sad story of their lives is persisting”.

“It becomes my duty as Leader of the Opposition in this country to reflect the views and the needs of these persons,” Thorne said.

“They are real people who have real bills and real children and real house rents and real mortgages . . . . If there is one fisherman or one vendor suffering, my voice must be heard in here. Their plight will not be and must not be neglected in here and I am asking this Government to pay some attention to the promise that was made months ago to the members of that community.”

The Christ Church South Member of Parliament called on the current administration to “stop making excuses and pay the people”. He also appealed for an extension to the three-month period of payment which Government had proposed.

Forde disputed Thorne’s claims. He said Government had reached out to the fishing community in the aftermath of Beryl, holding several meetings with them to outline the kind of assistance that would be given and detailing the process through which monies being offered could be accessed.

He said the “caring” Government led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley had indeed taken quick action to bring some relief to those in the industry whose livelihoods took a big hit, and that Mottley had met with the fisherfolk on at least two occasions.

“We have had a number of meetings to ensure that we get them to come and do the right things as it relates to filling out those forms so that we can process those payments,” Forde told the House, but conceded that “we have not had the successful completion of all the forms thus far”.

He disclosed that the Fisheries Division had employed “four additional staff members” to work with the fisherfolk to assist them with filling out forms and recently hired an additional person “with the sole responsibility to make phone calls to the fisherfolk whose vending forms were incomplete”.

Forde added there were 40 people so far who had not come forward to claim any funds, whether through the Benevolent Fund Programme or the 25 per cent grant being given for repair of boats.

To those 40 fisherfolk he said: “The door remains open.” (GC) 

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