Guyana: President Irfaan Ali announces one-off grant of $150,000 each for fisherfolk

Guyana: President Dr Irfaan Ali announced a one-off grant of $150,000 each for fisherfolk this afternoon to help them during their “difficult times”.

Fishing has taken a global hit with a decline in catches, and Guyana has been no exception.

The President, who made the announcement at Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara, said that the grant was made after a complete assessment of the needs of persons in the industry—who amount to over 5000.

“You have a Government that is responsible, the Government that will continue to work with you hand-in-hand,” the office of president mentioned.

He also stated that his Government is ready to work with people to use marine cages for aquaculture development.

Earlier, President Irfaan Ali witnessed the swearing-in of the new members of the Integrity Commission and the Police Service Commission today at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

Bishop Patrick Findlay is the chair of the four-member Police Service Commission team that also includes Mark Conway, Hakeem Mohamed and Ernesto Choo-a-Fat.

Mohamed, who was not present today, is expected to take his oath at a later date.

Meanwhile, Chandra Gajraj has been elected as chair of the five-member Integrity Commission.

The team also included Dr Jocelin Kim Kyte-Thomas, Hardesh Tewari and Wayne Bowman, who was sworn in by Chief Magistrate (ag) Judy Latchman, and Mohamed Ispahani Haniff.

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Members of both commissions will serve for a period of three years.

Also present were the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs – Anil Nandlall and Gail Teixeira – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.