PM announces aid for fisherfolk

The 19 fishermen who suffered damage from the passage of Hurricane Omar two weeks ago have been promised assistance from the Government.{{more}}

During his address at the Independence Day military parade on October 27th at Victoria Park, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves announced that he has put aside $330,000 to assist the fisherfolk who suffered loss and damage to their boats and seines when the sea surges associated with tropical Storm Omar lashed this country’s coastline on Thursday, October 16.

The assistance will be urgently administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, he announced.

“I feel the pain of the fisherfolk who suffered loss and damage to their boats and seines as a consequence of Tropical Storm Omar,” Dr Gonsalves said.

“Let us take care of the fisherfolk swiftly in time for the imminent start of the dolphin season,” he added.

He said that Omar caused overall damage in excess of $5 million.

This is good news for fishermen in Calliaqua and other areas, who last week told SEARCHLIGHT that they were hoping that help would come their way as they try to put the pieces together after Omar.(KJ)