Unlicensed fishermen also eligible for $150,000 grant – Mustapha clarifies

Licensing is not a requirement for fisherfolk to benefit from the $150,000 grant that has been announced by President Irfaan Ali.
This position was clearly outlined by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in a video statement on Saturday, amid some confusion regarding the disbursement. There were reports of persons being turned away because they were not licensed, to which he has set the record straight that all fishermen are to benefit.
“A fisherman went to an officer to register and he was told that he cannot be registered because he is not a licensed fisherman. I want to make it very clear that licence or no licence is not a requirement for fishermen to receive the grant that the President has announced…The President made it clear that all those fishermen who are working at sea and earning a living through that, will receive the grant. It seems like some people want to cause confusion because they are peddling misconceptions out there in terms of who will be getting this grant or who is entitled to receive the grant,” Mustapha vocalised.

The Agriculture Minister has clearly outlined that there will be two lists: one with licensed fishermen and the other with unlicensed fishermen. Committees are being formed across the country to validate persons before they benefit from the grant.
“We have fishermen who are licensed and non-licensed fishermen. When you look at the licensed, we have just about 50 per cent of the fishermen in this country that have been registered. Then you have a number of persons working that have never been registered.”
The Chief Fisheries Officer has already been briefed on the preparation of two lists to execute the grant distribution. Officers from the Fisheries Department found disrupting this process or preventing persons from accessing the grant will be held culpable.
“Any officer found trying to stop someone from registering his or her name will be disciplined. I want to make it very clear. I have already given that instruction. I hope that our officers with the Fisheries Department are not involved in those kinds of activities,” he warned.
On the other hand, the verification process will ensure that only legitimate persons benefit from the Government grant. At every landing site for fishermen, verification will be done.
President Ali had announced in May the rollout of one-off cash grants to the tune of $150,000.
He had explained that this measure is intended as direct assistance to the thousands of persons who depend on the fishing industry to sustain themselves and their families.
The industry plays a significant role as a foreign exchange earner for Guyana. According to the United Nations Comtrade database on international trade, in 2021, Guyana exported US$41.21 million in fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates. Low catch has been significantly affecting fishermen who operate in deep waters – a trend which was been impacting the industry over the past two years.