The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamian fisheries sector will "welcome" any help it can get, after the Prime Minister yesterday unveiled an exigency order to assist the sector and farmers following Hurricane Irma.

Dr Hubert Minnis, during a communication in Parliament, said: "To assist fishermen and farmers affected by Irma, I have proposed to cause another exigency order to be issued as soon as possible to assist these categories of individuals affected."

He added: "The order will allow for the purchase of traps, condos and fishing materials and equipment destroyed as a result of this hurricane. An application for assistance must be filed to NEMA, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources." Dr Minnis said the Government was committed to providing relief to farmers once the assessment was completed.

Adrian LaRoda, the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance's (BCFA) president, told Tribune Business: "It is good news, even though fishermen already have concessions or duty exemptions on a number of things. Whatever help we can get right now is good news, so we will have to see how it works out."

Mr LaRoda recently told Tribune Business that Hurricane Irma had dealt a "big blow" to the crawfish season, and warned of a "very tough Christmas" if the industry cannot recover.

"Guys are just trying to get back out now. We will have a better idea of where we stand in terms of what can be salvaged in another week or so. Some guys went out already, but we haven't heard from them yet, so it's still uncertain," he said.