$40M in liabilities uncovered in Fisheries Department

— Fisheries Advisory Board to be revamped

— Minister working to rectify issues

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, August 11, 2020

On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, revealed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has inherited, from the previous administration, an Agriculture Ministry riddled with weaknesses and one in a poor state of affairs.

Among the issues highlighted from assessments, was a deficit, detailing millions of dollars and major security issues in the Ministry’s Fisheries Department.

“The Department was found to have a liability of $40Million… there is still a need for the provision of security, tracking systems and other measures for fishermen to mitigate piracy attacks; accommodation for staff located at the Head Office; Legal and Inspectorate Unit; Aquaculture Unit in Regions Three, Five, Six and Ten, and for equipment and vehicles in hinterland regions to be able to effectively serve those areas.”

The PPP/C Government has been working tirelessly to uncover and correct the wrongs of the APNU+AFC administration in its bid to ensure the continued development of Guyana.

“The Ministry will continue its assessment of these and other entities within the realm of responsibility to derive a more detailed picture of what has been inherited by the PPP/C Government,” Minister Mustapha stated.

Work is also in progress to revamp the Fisheries Advisory Committee and other Boards that would have been expired as of June 2020. According to the Agriculture Minister, new boards will be appointed as soon as possible.