Agriculture Ministry provides $5.2M grant support to Alligator Pond fishers

Eighty-seven fisherfolk from Alligator Pond, Manchester have benefitted from grants totalling $5.2 million under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining's Fishers Relief Programme.

The support forms part of a $20 million allocation for fishers islandwide who lost pots, nets, traps and boats during a severe weather system on February 5.

Approximately 880 fishers were impacted, with losses estimated at $122 million.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at LeCoast Inn in Alligator Pond on Thursday Portfolio Minister, Floyd Green, implored the beneficiaries to protect their livelihood by taking advantage of insurance packages available for fisheries sector stakeholders.

“We have two insurance products that fishers have not taken up. Advantage General Insurance Company has a product that can insure boats and engines against anything, including theft, damage and other eventualities. If you had that when the weather event came, you could have made a claim. Government would help… but you would have something else to rely on,” he pointed out.

Green further cited GK Insurance's Weather Protect Plan, which safeguards against strong winds, heavy rains and drought.

“They insure both farmers and fishers, and with its special trigger, as long as the catastrophe reaches that trigger, even if the farmer sustains no damage, he gets a payout. So, with the February event, were the fishers insured, they would have benefitted from the Weather Protect Plan,” he said.

In Manchester, some 100 fishers were impacted by the severe weather, losing traps, nets and boats amounting to $22.7 million.

Green told the beneficiaries that the grants, valued $60,000 each, are intended to “lessen your burden and give you an opportunity to go back out.”

“The costs are significant and any help will go a far way in your fishing enterprise. This is just one of the numerous things we are doing in the Ministry to help fishermen and women across Jamaica,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kemisha Biggs, who has been fishing for three years, said the funds will help her replace lobster pots she lost during the weather event.

“I go out with my baby father for about three hours, not far out at sea. I make a livelihood from it… but lost lobster pots in February. I will use the money to start back my lobster business,” she said.

Twenty-five-year veteran in the sector, Miguel Ford, also expressed gratitude for the assistance, pointing out that fishing is his only source of income.

“I lost fish pots, fish nets and other things. It has been rough. I am still catching a little bit, but not as much as before. The money will help me to get fish nets and wire so I can get things back together to fish more often,” he said.

- JIS News

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