Close to 1,300 persons from the East Coast Demerara fishing belt were yesterday due to receive cheques as the payout of government’s one-off $150,000 cash grant for fisherfolk continued.
The distribution of the fisherfolk grant commenced last Friday in Berbice, three months after it was announcement by President Irfaan Ali.
Both Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha explained that the delay in the payout was based on the need for verification.
Jagdeo, who spearheaded the distribution to fisherfolk at Unity and Lusignan, in a brief address related that the government sought to verify the beneficiaries in a bid to prevent a repeat of allegations encountered during the distribution of the flood relief in 2021.
A sum of over $187 million was distributed to the East Coast fishers yesterday.
While there were some hiccups with persons not being able to receive their cheques, Jagdeo assured they would benefit from the grant once their names are on the register.
Some persons were asked to provide additional proof of identification as in some cases they utilised their old identification cards.
Jagdeo told those present that the government was working to uplift all citizens and remains committed to offering the support to cushion the rising cost of living.
However, he made the call to persons to consider alternative means of income as the fisheries sector may not be as profitable as they hope.
“You could start small businesses. You got to explore that sort of help with us because that’s what we’re here for, to assist people to make a transition to upgrade themselves, improve their lives. But if you don’t take this step and you complain, sit down at the seaside or a corner shop and only complain, things will pass by you, development will pass by,” he pointed out.
He explained to young fisherfolk that there is need for skilled workers, such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and welders etc. According to him, government is prepared to finance the training opportunities for them.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister disclosed that the government was working to carry out infrastructural upgrades to all landing sites across the country. He noted that with a supplementary sum of $300 million to his ministry’s budget, it will be upgrading several wharfs to provide better facilities for fishers.
Mustapha stated, too, that they will be constructing a building in keeping with their promise to fishermen at No. 79 village, Corentyne.
“We are working to bring these things in place and to a standard so that fisherfolk and fishermen can have better access of facilities. [So] when they bring out their catches they don’t have any hassle bring it to shore,” Mustapha said.
Meanwhile, the fishermen who received their cheques were overjoyed and many said they will be utilisng the money to maintain their livelihoods.
For Cecil Dhanpaul, who resides in Providence and was recently affected by the flash flooding after the Providence Koker breakaway over a week ago, the money will assist him to refurnish his home.
“I living in a downstairs. The koker breakaway and we get flood and many of our stuff was damaged. So I glad for this money here because it will help me to buy back some of our stuff. They promised to give us some help for the flood but we never see them back… so I glad for this money,” he told reporters yesterday.
Another fisherman said he will be spending a portion of his money on groceries for his house and investing some into his fisheries business.
“Things really rough, so I will buy some groceries and put up. When you deh on sea is share blows you ain,t getting nothing,” Haman Chardrapaul said.
Approximately 10,000 fisherfolks are expected to benefit from the cash grant distribution.
Back in May, Ali during a visit to at Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara, said that the grant was made after a complete assessment of the needs of persons in the industry.
At his announcement of the grant for fisherfolk, Ali said it was to help them during their “difficult times”.
He also stated that his Government is ready to work with persons to use marine cages for aquaculture development.
Fishing has taken a global hit with a decline in catches and Guyana has been no exception, a statement from the Office of the President said.
