Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha continues to maintain that the comprehensive investigation into the fisheries sector will provide answers to questions surrounding the issuance of two new trawler licences for seabob fishing operations and the recipients of the licences.
Approached by this newspaper yesterday for a comment following the signing of contracts for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), he said that after meeting with the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) he will make a statement on the matter. The meeting between his ministry and GATOSP is likely to be held by Friday.
Pressed on the names of the holders of the licences, Mustapha offered that he could not remember the names of recipients. He told this newspaper that to his knowledge, the licence holders are “locals who are reputable fishermen.”