Matter of payments to fisherfolk cleared up

Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne has given Government until tomorrow to pay monies owed to those in the fishing industry in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. He says following the passing of the Category 5 hurricane on July 1, Government stated boat owners would be entitled to a $2,000 subsidy for three months starting September, while fishermen and vendors would receive $1,500 each. Mr. Thorne says he wrote to the Chief Fisheries Officer on November 1, which has not been acknowledged to date, and produced a two page letter. He was speaking during a press conference at the Opposition Leader's Office, where he initially gave a deadline of next Thursday for payment. However, after consultation with fisherfolk present at the press conference Mr. Thorne changed the deadline to tomorrow. He has called on Government to extend the allowance for affected fisherfolk for December and into January 2025. Mr. Thorne says if the payments are not delivered, he and his team are prepared to release figures of other sectors that received subsidies. Meanwhile, Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, and the Green and Blue Economy Adrian Forde has cleared up the matter of payments. He says Government took a policy decision post Hurricane Beryl to provide a Business Interruption Benefit to boat owners, captains and crew who depend solely on fisheries for their incomes, and have since paid out over one million dollars. The Minister says those people receiving weekly or monthly salaries and entitled to unemployment benefits were taken off the list of those affected. Those who remained on the list after that, were invited to register so as to allow for disbursement of payments. He says the process has started, but some challenges were encountered along the way, as a result of incorrect or missing information, and incomplete forms. Additionally, Minister Forde says payments have also been disbursed by cheque to those who were experiencing challenges with opening bank or credit union accounts, or whose accounts are dormant. Subscribe to CBC Barbados https://www.youtube.com/@cbcbarbados246 Connect with the CBC Barbados Website: https://www.cbc.bb/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBCBARBADOS/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbcbarbados246 X: https://twitter.com/CBCBARBADOS #CBCTV8 #CBCNews #ConnectingBarbadianCommunities