The $200,000 project aims to improve fisheries infrastructure, food safety standards, and support Dominica’s food security and climate resilience.
Dominica: The Government of Dominica has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and strengthening the fishing sector in the country as it handed over a fish vending facility and landing site to the local fisherfolk of the Fond Cole community. This project is valued at $200,000 and was funded through a loan secured by the Government of Dominica.
The official opening and handing over of the vending facility and landing site were carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy last week.
This project is part of the Ministry’s greater and ongoing efforts to expand the fisheries subsector and upgrade its infrastructure. The initiative is also targeting to strengthen Dominica’s food security and economic climate resilience.
Along with the new facility, the fisher folk had prior received 24 new fishing vessels for fishers who lost their boats and a donation of more than 108 engines to those without a proper functioning engines.
Present at the handing over ceremony, the Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jullan Dofoe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Ryan Anslem; and the Mayor of Roseau, Lucy Belle-Matthew.
When asked why the Government chose to invest in this project when the country already has a major fisheries infrastructure in Roseau, Minister Jullan Dofoe shared that the Government’s concentration on the rehabilitation at the landing site and investment in the vending facility is aimed at preserving the fisherfolk’s customs and culture by enhancing what they already have instead of relocating them to a new area.
He stated that the project is part of the Government’s efforts to take food safety to the next level.
This time we concentrated on the rehabilitation at the landing site level to improve the food safety systems and the standard of how service is presented to the Dominican public, stated Jullan Dofoe.
The newly elected Mayor of Roseau, Lucy Belle-Matthew, has thanked the Government of Dominica on behalf of the community of Fond Cole.
On behalf of the residents of the community of Fond Cole and all the fisher folks that would be using this facility, we would like to say thank you to the government of Dominica, particularly the Ministry of Fisheries for making this a reality for us today, stated Mayor Matthew.
Addressing the importance of this facility to the community, Lucy spoke of the challenges faced by the fisherfolk by sharing, “Too many times we have seen our fisher folks struggling with their little tables outside. Today we can see this beautiful facility is going to enhance the way that they present their products—even with regard to the general aesthetics of how it is the products is being sold.”
The Mayor went on to encourage the fishermen to make good use of the facility, sharing that she hopes to see the numbers of tables by the roadside reducing as time goes by. She also urged them to take ownership and manage the facility properly, ensuring that it is well maintained.