SOME 90 fisherfolk from the parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine have been equipped with new skills to enhance their livelihood, having benefited from a three-day training seminar on 'Safe Seamanship and Environmental Management'.
The programme was funded and spearheaded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Jamaica Business Recovery Programme (JBRP). The training was carried out by the Caribbean Maritime Institute.
Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke, in his address at the closing ceremony held at the Jamalco Sports Club in Halse Hall, Clarendon, on November 2, expressed appreciation to the USAID for funding the training programme. He said it was of critical importance that persons engaged in the fishing trade be properly trained in basic safety and survival techniques, in addition to learning how to carry out the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.
"Undoubtedly, this training will impact positively on the livelihood of these graduates by ensuring that the sector continues to be a reliable means of providing employment, increasing food security and fostering indirect economic activity in related industries," he said.
Kevin Rushing, Deputy Mission Director at the USAID, informed that more than 200 fisher folk in the parishes of Clarendon, St. Catherine, Manchester and St. Elizabeth have benefited from the training programme.
