Fisherfolk at D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice were told on Saturday last that they will soon benefit from a new wharf, shed and tarmac.
According to a press release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha made this disclosure during a meeting he held with them at the three-door koker in the area.
“We will be doing an estimate and we will try as much as possible to resurface the tarmac at this site so you can have a better facility… So we will also build that wharf and we will do the shed. I am hoping that within a month, we can start to do those things,” he was quoted as saying.
This follows a recent engagement between President Irfaan Ali and the fisherfolk in the area, during which various commitments were made to enhance their working conditions, the release said.
It added that Ali had also instructed the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to provide further support to the fisherfolk and subsequently, NAREI provided them with seeds, fertiliser, small shade houses, and other inputs.
The DPI release said that among the issues raised during Saturday’s engagement was outstanding payments from some fishermen to the cooperative society. These and other concerns are expected to be addressed by Chief Fisheries Officer Denzil Roberts at a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, it added.
Mustapha was further quoted as saying: “We have done several works here, and [while] these are new works which will cost millions of dollars…we will continue to make that kind of investment because the fishing industry contributes a major source of protein for the Guyanese people.”
The release said that the subject minister urged the fisherfolk to work along with the new management committee of the Three-Door Fishermen Co-op Society.
He reiterated the pivotal role played by the fisheries sector in Guyana’s economy, noting its current stage of significant transformation driven by large investments, the release said.
The minister was joined by Chief Fisheries Officer Denzil Roberts, Regional Chairman of Region Five Vickchand Ramphal, Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Lionel Wordsworth and other technical officers, it added.
