ONR to repair fish labs in Sp Town
published: Tuesday | January 4, 2005

By John Myers, Jr., Staff Reporter

THE OFFICE of National Reconstruction (ONR) last Thursday disbursed $1.2 million to repair two acquaculture laboratories in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, that were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in September.

The repair work on the two laboratories, which produce some 3.6 million fingerlings (young fish) for consumption and 1.1 million ornamental fingerlings for pet use valued at a combined $33 million annually, is expected to be completed in two weeks.

Danville Walker, chief executive officer of the ONR, handed over the cheque during a press conference held at the reconstruction agency's office in New Kingston.

Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, who was present at the handover of the cheque, explained that "this money is really going to help to put them (the farmers) back together so we can move forward with our fish production." He said the potential demand for fingerlings grown for consumption and ornamental purposes was "extremely good".

Mr. Clarke said the Agriculture Ministry should get in the next two weeks, 1,900 rolls of mesh wire for distribution to marine fishers as part of the rehabilitation process in the aftermath of the hurricane. He said at least 5,000 marine fishers should benefit by the end of March in the new year.

REVIVING PRODUCTION

The minister said Thursday's donation by the ONR will only allow for addressing the most critical area of the sector, which is to revive production.

According to Mr. Walker, "The production of fish for food is an important part of the food supply for the country and you will find we are making sure that our interventions are not just to give individual fishermen a stamp, but also to look at some of the infrastructure so that we can have a longer lasting effect on the health of the sector." About $40 million have been earmarked for rehabilitating the fisheries sector, he said.

In the meantime, Mr. Clarke said the Agriculture Ministry has so far disbursed some $72 million of a committed $220 million to farmers who were affected by hurricanes Charley and Ivan. He said disbursement of funds will resume next week.