The Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy has paid out in excess of $1.5 million to fisherfolk whose livelihoods were impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1.
However, some people did not receive any money either because they were ineligible or clerical errors on the application form delayed the processing.
That was Minister Adrian Forde’s response to demands from Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne to pay affected fisherfolk the money that was due to them.
Policy decision
In a statement yesterday evening, Forde said after the Government took a policy decision to pay the money, a database was created.
After this was crossreferenced with the National Insurance and Social Security Service’s records, those who were classified as “employees” and were found to be receiving either monthly or weekly salaries and were entitled to unemployment benefits were automatically taken off the list.
Incomplete forms
“. . . The Ministry identified a number of challenges that have inhibited the smooth payment of funds and these were related to incomplete vendor forms and the absence of the vital information needed to process the payments, including inaccurate ID numbers, no TAMIS numbers and no banking information,” Forde said.
Cheques have also been disbursed to those who have challenges with financial institutions.
The ministry was doing its part by employing additional staff to expedite the process, Forde said, and they also appealed to fisherfolk “through their respective organisations and through the use of both digital and print media” to visit the Fisheries Division and complete the registration process.
“To date, the ministry has disbursed $1 553 921.60 in business interaction benefits. The ministry is committed to working with all fisherfolk to ensure the speedy recovery of our fishing industry, which is an essential part of our sustainable development.”
Some of the fisherfolk attended Thorne’s press conference at his Hincks Street, The City, office demanding payments and citing hardships as they struggled to make ends meet. Thorne said Government’s failure to act would result in the Democratic Labour Party revealing the sums paid to other sectors. ( PR/SAT)
