This week, we've been showing you what Belize's fishing community lost to Lisa's relentless and punishing winds that flattened fishing camps. They are now pleading with the government for aid to replace their fishing gears which were washed away. Without those gears, they can't resume their operations, which means they cannot feed their families.
This morning Andre Perez, the Minister of the Blue Economy, was available for an interview with the press, and we asked about that plea from the fisherfolk. He told us that some of the fishermen in distress reached out to his office several days ago and that he has alerted the Cabinet accordingly:
Abner Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"In cabinet today we discussed places that got destroyed. We normally talk about Belize City and the outlying areas that got destroyed, but indeed the cabinet raised the matter and we have had a preliminary assessment that we had done when it went to cabinet. I did share my concerns to the Prime Minister and the cabinet that the fisherfolks indeed got affected. I spoke to my fisher administrator yesterday and he briefed me on what the conditions are. This week here again we'll be doing a furthermore detailed assessment, But we do know that the fisherfolks did get affected and got displaced. So, we need to work along with them. I cannot say what I have with them such as funding because urgent funds are coming in, but that is yet for cabinet to decide how it's going to be worked on. Indeed, I've made my call already within the cabinet that the fisheries sector certainly got affected and the production or lobster and conch will be affected for the next 3 months. It's going to take a while to recover, that's what they are telling me in the fisheries department."
Reporter
"So, you all expect that when the SIB comes with its next assessment, the numbers for the fisheries being trapped will definitely be down."
