Fisherfolk get equipment in aid of hurricane recovery

On Wednesday, February 25, the first distribution from the UWJ Hurricane Melissa Restoration and Rehabilitation Fund was made to fisherfolk at the Bluefields Bay Fishing Village. They received equipment including netting, ropes, ball floats, and life vests. Logistics partner JAS sourced most of the supplies from the Fisheries Co-operative Credit Union.

The non-profit private voluntary organisation made available an allocation of $10 million to be used for critical resources including equipment, livestock feed, infrastructure rehabilitation and financial aid to help fishers and farmers rebuild islandwide.

UWJ CEO Kerry-Lee Lynch and JAS CEO Derron Grant welcomed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green, State Minister Franklyn Witter and Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern Dr Dayton Campbell to witness the handover. 

Minister Green shared in his address that the Ministry plans to rehabilitate fishing beaches islandwide. 

“Work has already started in White House, where we are putting in a new fuel system for the fishers. The offices are also being redone and we intend to do more over the next financial year,” Minister Green said.

He went on to praise fishers and farmers as the “strongest people in our country” as, no matter what happens, they keep going back. All they need is support.

Interventions such as this first tranche of UWJ/JAS distribution are necessary as the National Fisheries Authority preliminarily estimates damage to the sector at $3 billion.

CEO of UWJ Lynch said help is coming.

“This initiative is part of the Hurricane Melissa Restoration and Rehabilitation Programme and is intended to restore the livelihoods of fisherfolk and farmers,” said Lynch. “Today, these equipment re-establish the livelihoods and hope within the agricultural sector as well as to help build and maintain resilient communities.”

A few of the fisherfolk expressed gratitude for the supplies received.

Fisherwoman Elvega Francis, as she’s rebuilding her business, urged Jamaicans to support local industries. “It is best to support our own. We are always bringing in a “fresh catch” on the same day we go out fishing. It is definitely more healthy.” 

Longstanding Partnership

UWJ and JAS have a long history of working together.

“Our partnership has been many years in the making. We have been working together from as far back as Hurricane Ivan (2004) and even more recently after Hurricane Beryl (2024),” JAS CEO Derron Grant explained. “It has been necessary to do this work as following the hurricane, the price of food increased, and the supply was limited, highlighting the importance of fisherfolk and farmers. Hurricane Beryl and Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage to the country, with preliminary estimates reaching about JM$30 billion.”

Grant stressed that every beneficiary received a life vest.

Lynch also revealed UWJ has other national impacts.

“We are also performing infrastructure restoration for early childhood institutions and high schools with other funds. Two weeks prior, $10 million was handed over to Belmont Academy, which is located near Bluefields Fishing Village through our partnership with J.E.T.S. Limited,” Lynch said.

United Way of Jamaica will distribute $100 million in donations from the J.E.T.S Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. Eight entities shared $50 in the first tranche: Belmont Academy receiving $10m; St. Elizabeth Technical High School, $7.5m; William Knibb Memorial High School, $5m; Hampton High School for Girls, $5m; Black River High School, $5m; Manning’s School, $5m; Mustard Seed Communities, $5m; and the UWJ’s Agricultural Relief Effort will receive $5 million.