Distribution of $150k fisherfolk cash grant begins in Reg 6

– more than 1600 in Berbice to benefit

By Andrew Carmichael
Fisherfolk in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Friday began receiving the Government’s $150,000 one-off cash grant – a fulfilment of a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali back in May.

The exercise was led by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground and the Skeldon Community Centre Ground which saw hundreds of people in attendance.
More than 1600 fisherfolk stretching from the East Bank of Berbice to the Corentyne River are expected to receive the grant which will dent the State’s coffers by $153 million.
During his address, VP Jagdeo stated that the initiative was similar to that offered to the farmers while noting that the grants were to cushion the adverse effects of global changes, which, among other things, have seen a reduction in catches and rising cost of living.

On May 31, President Ali had announced the $150,000 one-off relief grant for fisherfolk across the country.
According to the Vice President, initially, when the announcement was made, there was focus on 5000 fishers, but almost 10,000 persons have come forward claiming to be fishers.
With a rigid system put in place, the final lists were made and ultimately the funds released.
“Some people who never know how to hold a seine were applying. Some of them were farmers and they got money under the farmer’s programme and now they switched to the fisherman’s programme. So, we spent a lot of time weeding out. We know that we can’t weed out everybody. We will get ripped off a bit,” the Vice President said while noting that some who did not deserve it will get the grant.
“We cannot delay it further, because a lot of the people who need the help they need it now, so we have decided to move forward,” he added.

Many in the fishing industry do not have the required documents to undertake certain financial transactions including cashing a cheque at a bank. Some were not registered at birth and have no birth certificates and more so, no form of identification.
Jagdeo assured that systems were put in place to ensure that all of the fishers will be receiving the cash grants.
“We used two things – we looked at the voter’s list and we also look at your ID – if you have ID. Some don’t have ID cards; we have the cheques, but you will have to verify that you are the person who doesn’t have ID cards. There is another set who don’t have ID cards and are not on the voter’s list, so you don’t know if they exist or it is the right person,” he noted.
Those who do not have the required documents, the Vice President explained, will have to go through a process of further verification before the cheques are handed over.
“You are not going to be excluded if you are a legitimate fisherman and you can prove your identity, so we need to do that additional verification. But once that is done, you are going to get the cheque.”
Meanwhile, many of those who received their cheques were in high praise for the Government.
“I am really thankful for this,” Ramish Ramkarran of Anker Ville, Port Mourant said. He explained that he does not go out to sea but works in the industry by fixing equipment the fishers need to use. Ramkarran works at the fishing port at Adventure along the Corentyne Coast.
Latadavi Rahaman is a boat owner of Fyrish and according to her, the single boat she owns was damaged at sea and the grant will assist her to conduct the needed repairs.
Omar David of Albion, who uses a drift seine, owns three fishing boats.
“Is a nice help-out the Government do for fishermen. We does get some losses and fish nah catch, so this money would come in good use to look after back certain things,” he said.
In addition, Deonarine Ceryl, who has been in the industry for the past 20 years, noted that his catch has been declining and welcomed the intervention by the Government.
According to Elroy Leitch of Manchester Village, fishing is a difficult job. “I will give my mother some of this money. Always when I go out to sea and come back, I give my mother something.”
Meanwhile, Chandrelala Balgobin, who owns two boats, says he was very thankful for the much-needed assistance. According to him, since his boyhood days, he has been fishing at sea.
Back then he pointed out, there was more fish caught on each expedition. However, with more boats going out to sea, the available fish per person is significantly less.
Nevertheless, he noted that there is still enough for everyone.