– to provide better access to services, materials used in the fishing industry
A project costing the Government $40 million will see all fisherfolk on the Upper Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) having better access to services and materials used in the fishing industry.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday commissioned the new headquarters of the Number 79 Fisherman Co-op.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha at the ribbon cutting ceremony
The project also includes a shed for fisherfolk at the Number 43 landing site.
The Minister noted that it was during a meeting last year with Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo that the co-op had requested assistance to resuscitate the facility, which had been in disrepair for more than a decade.
He noted that the fishing industry has been making a significant input to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and as such, Government is committed to supporting the industry.
“We must appreciate what the Government has been doing, and as a Government, we know that they have been risking their lives to ply their trade. That is why we will continue to support this important industry. The fishing industry has been making valuable contributions to Guyana’s GDP, to our country’s economy. There are some 18,000 persons directly involved, and earning their livelihood from the fishing industry,” the Agriculture Minister noted.
Though the building was commission on Saturday, the Minister noted that more work will be done at the Co-op headquarters.
“I have made a commitment to the fisherfolk here that we will do the tarmac: we will concrete the entire lot here; a gas station will be built here so that fisherfolks can purchase their gas right here; they will put in a hardware store here so that they can come here and purchase their seine, lead, rope and other fishing inputs, and we will work very closely with this committee.”
Minister Mustapha looks at equipment in the new building
Meanwhile, in underscoring the importance of co-ops, Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, pointed out that they still have their uses in the modern world.
Senior Fisheries Officer, Mikhail Amsterdam, explained that the commissioning comes at a critical time for Guyana’s fisheries sector, and is a direct reflection of the Government’s commitment to not only improve the livelihoods of fisherfolk but also forms part of a broader national agenda to ensure that coastal communities along the Corentyne thrive in this rapidly evolving and competitive sector.
“The Number 79 village has a rich history of fishing, and today it still remains one of the critical areas along the Corentyne for fishermen to land catches, repair vessels, and supply fresh fish to the markets,” he noted.
The Senior Fisheries Officer outlined that in order for such initiatives not only continue but expand, the fisheries department will increase the number of training opportunities, landing site and vessel inspections, and expand data collection activities.
