Soufriere Boat Owners, Fishers get $430,000 Recovery Support Package from Government

Thirty-eight licensed boat owners and fishers from Soufriere, who were impacted by severe weather events this year, have received a $430,000 Recovery Support Package from the government. In February, dangerous storm surge damaged several fishing vessels in Soufriere. This was compounded by the extensive damage caused to fishing assets by Hurricane Beryl five months later, in July. Immediately following the passage of the hurricane, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and Member of Parliament for Soufriere, Emma Hippolyte toured the affected communities where they assured fishers of the government’s commitment to supporting their recovery. On Thursday, Hippolyte and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Alfred Prospere joined Pierre in handing over cheques to the affected licensed boat owners and fishers to help them repair and restore their vessels and regain their livelihoods. “Saint Lucia’s food security depends on our fishers and farmers,” said a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister. “The Pierre administration will continue directing government support and resources to build resilience and advance the development of the agriculture sector.” The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development coordinated the response effort to provide the crucial financial support. The article Soufriere Boat Owners,...