NEWS
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Corentyne fishermen engage Agri Minister on zoning with trawler operators – reassured of Ministry’s support
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griculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday conducted an outreach to several villages along the Corentyne Coast, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), and met with a group of fishermen who appealed for improved zoning in Guyana’s waters. During the meeting at Hogs Town, in Fyrish, the fishermen, who usually fish in a dedicated area in the Atlantic Ocean, told Mustapha that there has been a recent migration of the fish stock that requires them to venture beyond their dedicated zone. Sankar Samaroo, one of the affected fishermen, explained that climate change had adversely impacted the catch level and population within their current fishing zone. “Due to the climate change, the fish not coming into the amount of water you guys give us to fish in. We gotta go over by the trawlers and we ah get cuss. They say-
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha
this so that there can be a specific time for the trawlers to fish and the fishermen to fish. We’ve met with them and asked for us to be allowed to fish from 6 o’clock in the morning to 2 o’clock in the afternoon and they could fish during the rest of the day and the night because they are fishing primarily for shrimps. The fishes feed on the shrimp
noted. In response, Mustapha committed to raising these concerns with the recently installed bodies mandated to overlook the industry and give recommendations to Government. “Last week I installed two bodies that are responsible for dealing with these matters; the Fisheries Advisory
Several firemen at the meeting on Saturday
ing that that is not our zone. We are asking the Minister if there can be a review of
so where ever the shrimps go the fishes following,” Samaroo
Committee and the Guyana Fisheries Limited Board
(GFLB). Members of the trawlers association have also raised issues pertaining to the low level of catches and the Ministry, through the Fisheries Department, will launch an investigation into the matter soon. In relation to your matter, I will raise it with the heads of both bodies so that they can meet with all parties involved, launch an investigation and make recommendations for a way forward to the Fisheries Department,” Minister Mustapha said. Other fishermen also appealed for assistance with the irrigation channel used when discharging their catch and for works to be carried out on the access dam used to transport their engines. “When the tide low, boat cannot come in. We have to wait for the tide to rise then boats can come in. We are coming in a line so by the time the first boat finish discharging the catch, the catch from the last boat spoil. The channel is very, very narrow. Another issue, whenever the channel where the Albion Estate blow water, the dam is breaking so the channel is being affected. We are asking if… they recently bring a long-boom hymac, but it cannot reach to the middle, so, we’re asking if they can get a pontoon with the hymac and get that thing resolved. The revetment on the eastern half of the channel from where the concrete irrigation is which is like about 500 feet so that the dam cannot break away. It’s tough on us to take out our engines when the tide is low and the catch. We cannot work during low tide. We are asking for something to be done so that we could get better access,” Ramsarran related. The Minister committed
Black Bush Polder security officers protest over non-payment of salaries …as December and January salaries still outstanding
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ecurity officers of Black Bush Polder who are attached to Integrated Security Services on Monday took to the streets demanding that the company pay their December and January salaries. The security firm was contracted to provide security to Government buildings. One of the officers, Sookdeo McTuria, who has been performing duties at the Mibicuri Hospital, said he will not be returning to work until his demands are met. “We did not have a salary for the past two months and we did not have any leave package for the past three years since Integrated Security come on. Since 2017, we have been working with the company.” Previously the security officers worked with another company but after the
Several security officers protesting for their salaries on Monday
contract was awarded to Integrated Security Services, the guards who were already working at the various locations were employed. The guards are also alleging that their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) deductions are being made but not paid over. The guards were last paid on December 18 for the
month of December. Meanwhile, several of the aggrieved officers explained that they either ride a bicycle or walk to their respective work stations since they can no longer afford to take public transportation to get to work. This is not the first time security officers attached to the security firm protested. Back in May 2018, the securi-
ty personnel had protested in New Amsterdam demanding March and April salaries. They had also protested in January and February of that year, calling for payment of salaries. Only two months after the security company took up the contract, workers protested, demanding uniforms and salaries in December of 2017. In September 2020, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton had called out security companies for not submitting NIS contributions and late payment of salaries. He had also said that his Ministry was going to look into allegations that a certain security company was in the habit of withholding salaries from the working class. Meanwhile, telephone calls to the company’s head office in Georgetown went unanswered.
Sankar Samaroo, a resident making a point at the meeting
to having works executed to bring some level of assistance to the fishermen. “I’ve asked the CEO of the NDIA, and within two weeks we’ll send the pontoon with the excavator to clear the entire enlarged channel so that you can have some level of relief,” Minister Mustapha said. The Minister also told the fishermen that soon there will be a National Aquaculture Conference, during which His Excellency, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali will launch the Government’s aquaculture master plan. Recently, stakeholders in the fishing industry across the country have raised concerns over low-level catches in both fish and seabob species in Guyana’s waters. During a recent meeting with the newly installed Fisheries Advisory Committee, President of the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood
Processors (GATOSP) Ruben Charles expressed concern over the current low level of catches with Minister Mustapha. This, he said, may be linked to the current oil exploration activities offshore. He added that although no scientific research has been done in Guyana to officially link low levels of catches to oil exploration, there have been similar instances of low-level catches in other nations with current oil and gas operations offshore. Farmers also raised issues about drainage and dilapidated roads and dams. Minister Mustapha committed to having a machine deployed to the area to carry out the works. He told residents that the machine will remain in the area until the works were completed. He also committed to providing crusher run gravel to do revetment work on the dilapidated dams.
Gazetted COVID-19 guidelines extended until February 28 – bars can open to 40% capacity
T
he Government has further extended the gazetted COVID-19 measures from December 2020 until February 28, 2021. The measures maintain the curfew from 10:30h to 4:00h daily, and restrictions on social activities. However, the new guidelines facilitate the opening of bars and restaurants from 4:00h to 21:30h. The updated order restricts indoor dining to 40 per cent of the capacity of the building, with tables placed six feet apart and no more than four persons allowed at one table. Further, staff at the restaurants and bars are required to wear their masks properly and sanitise tables, chairs and bar countertops after each use. Buffet dining remains prohibited. The guidelines restrict social gatherings and recreational activities including private parties, receptions, wakes or vigils. Restrictions on visitations are still in
place at places of quarantine or isolation, prisons or correctional facilities, hospitals and nursing homes. Additionally, healthcare workers must still benefit from preferential treatment when conducting business and, on submission of proof of identification. Physical exercise is only allowed in parks, on roads, seawalls and near creeks and rivers. Gyms are also allowed to open at 50 per cent capacity, while sporting events are subject to approval from the Ministry of Health and must comply with the measures. While the country’s borders with Brazil and Suriname remain closed, the Lethem crossing will be opened on Thursdays to facilitate trade. The measures also stipulate the wearing of masks, social distancing, along with frequent sanitising and handwashing to curb the spread of the disease.
