Fishing & Farming relief not top priority for NDP Gov't post Irma!
The Deputy Premier was bombarded with a slew of questions yesterday, December 3, 2017 at the Carrot Bay Methodist Church in Carrot Bay, on the western end of Tortola, of which included relief/assistances for fishermen and farmers. Addressing the concerned residents, some of whose livelihoods depend solely on those trades, Hon Pickering told them not to expect any financial assistance before the second quarter of 2018.
No money for now
He said, “As of now, we can help in non-monetary ways but in terms of giving financial support at this point in time, that is probably the best estimate that I could say.”
“It’s a question of budgetary allocation, so there is going to be some money allocated to fishing and farming but not in the immediate set of monies that we get...It is one of those things that will be given us in the recovery plan. Roads are more important and you got to get the roads fixed, you got to get the hospital fixed, you got to get the schools up and running,” residents were told by Hon Pickering.
It was not only the homes and other buildings housing businesses and government offices that were severely impacted by the September 6, 2017 Hurricane – Irma, but also farms/vegetation and instruments and vessels used by hundreds in plying the fishing and other marine trades.
We have no money
Residents told the Deputy Premier that since Hurricane Irma they have been subjected to a zero source of income and needed government’s help to get back on their feet.
But they were also told, “All the boats that are sunken anywhere in the BVI, whether on Jost van Dyke, Little Thatch, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda, those fall on us, that’s our responsibility to help get those removed, especially those that are sunken, and it is not cheap.”
According to Hon Pickering, “Getting them out of the water is only one half of the story. Getting them out of the country is another…that is consuming literally all of the little money that we have to do anything in our Ministry.”
Meanwhile, Hon Fahie intends to continue to have Ministers of Government and others in pivotal decision making offices join him at his regular meetings with residents of his district. The Opposition Leader said inviting the territory’s leaders came as a response to the request of the people of his district.
Hon Pickering is the first to attend.
26 Responses to “Fishing & Farming relief not top priority for NDP Gov't post Irma!”
At least I admired his honesty unlike smith and walwyn
I don't believe this
I do have a big yard and I love planting.
Esteem told me he is with the VIP ALL THE WAY
What are we really looking for from Government?
How quickly do we expect the country to be built back?
How are we going to build back our infrastructure with very little to no customs revenue, tourism or financial services?
How many of you are now thankful for the hospital and it's structural integrity?
Peter Island, Little Dix, Bitter End, Sebastian, The Moorings, the entire yachting industry Real Estate destroyed!
I would really like to hear a long term plan for reconstruction of the BVI, I am not unreasonable, I realize the rebuilding of this country will take many years. Life and the prosperity that we enjoyed in the BVI for many years was destroyed by a storm called Erma. I only pray that we can learn from our past mistakes and figure out the best way to move forward in developing this great country.
We elected the this Government to lead and we demand leadership and accountability. We want to know how any loan that the people of these Islands will have to be pay back is used. We have wasted a great deal of money on Beaches, Airlines, walls etc. Lets thank God for our blessings and help each other during these hard times. Nothing is never as Good as it seems and nothing is never as bad as it seems. We will be ok in Time Do Your Part and help those who are in need. Electricity Department is doing a great Job in getting the lights back on. Contributions from abroad is greatly appreciated. We are blessed Anyone who claims to have all the answers after such a historic Hurricane is lying. I do expect more from this Gov!!! That 7 Million that went to BVI Airways would come in handy now!