Minister Mustapha to repair fishermen’s facility at Meadow Bank Wharf
-lack of security, water among issues to be addressed
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha today, committed to providing assistance to enhance the Greater Georgetown Fishermen Co-op Society Wharf at Meadow Bank, Ruimveldt during a tour of the facility.
During his interaction with the fisherfolk who ply their trade daily at the wharf, the Minister was informed that the lack of security and water are the main challenges to production.
He pledged to convey those concerns to the Guyana Water Incorporated through the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Minster Mustapha also observed that, “Many persons complained about robbery and the security problem here. It seems that if we want to develop this area, we have to have proper security.
They are also saying that when the Police come, they are not taking the kind of action they supposed to take. I plan to raise it with Minister Benn and also I will have a joint meeting with the Co-op, the fishermen and the Commander for Georgetown so that they can enhance security at this place.”
In the meantime, Minister Mustapha committed to making funds available to rehabilitate the facility, after which it is expected that the fees would be paid and the structure maintained. He added that he would make a request for major renovations of the facility in next year’s budget.
“This is a very beautiful place. I think that this place has potential that we can develop it into a world-class facility, but it needs good management. They need proper guidance and I will be asking our Department of Fisheries to ensure that they concentrate a lot of work here to give the kind of guidance and enhance the kind of management that we have here,” Minister Mustapha said.
Meanwhile, several vendors at the wharf expressed gratitude to the Minister for his intervention.
“The visit was good and its timely that he come here and I think he would stand on his word and he will do something for the people them here because it’s long overdue. For years nothing been happening here so I think he would stand to his word,” Ms. Lydia Basdeo told DPI.
Businessman Mr. Krishna Jettoo also said the visit was timely as an intervention was needed urgently. “I’m hoping that this happen and happen very soon because it getting really bad every day. I had a lot of incidents on this wharf over here, and I’ m hoping that… like, he said, I don’t know if money allocated in the budget for this here, but whatever he could do we could actually accept that at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Mohamed Khan, Chairman of the Co-op said the building was established in 1985 and since then there has been no dredging of the area, while up to 160 fishing boats moor at the Wharf daily.
Chief Fisheries Officer, Mr. Denzil Roberts also attended the tour.