Help for Farmers and Fishermen

As the nation continues on the road to recovery, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan, 200 of the country’s fishermen and farmers are set to receive gas stoves with accompanying cylinders from Shell Company Jamaica.
Shell is donating 100 gas stoves and cylinders to the Jamaica Fishermen’s Co-operative and another 100 to the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS). These are to be distributed to the most needy members of both groups.
This donation forms part of the company’s $5 million commitment to assist a number of worthy causes, including the Salvation Army.
Speaking to JIS News today (October 5), at a handing over ceremony at the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) Duke Street offices, LPG General Manager of Shell, Roger Bryan indicated that his company’s donation was more than an act of good corporate citizenship.
“If you look at Jamaica, the fishing and agricultural industries really underpin the economy. Clearly, we (Shell) see these as sectors that were quite significantly damaged and we are happy to be able to help the sectors,” he said.
Meanwhile, President of the JAS, Senator Norman Grant expressed gratitude for the donation.
“These will certainly mean a lot for the farmers, as several have lost not only their roofs but have lost equipment, and some of them up to this point in time don’t have stoves. So, we think it is an opportune time for the farmers and the Society and we will ensure that they are distributed on a transparent basis,” he said.
Commenting on the loss sustained by the agricultural sector, Senator Grant told JIS News that this was in the region of $6.7 billion.
The JAS President said he was upbeat about recovery efforts for the agricultural sector, noting that “we believe that we will have fresh produce in the hands of consumers by Christmas. We also believe that the rebuilding process is going to take place over a period of time as some of these crops take two months, three months, and four months”.
Chairman of the Co-operative, Havelon Honeyghan, was thankful for the donation to the 100 fishermen. He thanked both Shell and the JMA for taking time “to see to the wellbeing of those fisher folk who suffered loss in Hurricane Ivan”.
Mr. Honeyghan told JIS News that based on preliminary reports, the fishing industry was dealt a financial blow estimated at $610 million. In addition, he said, large fishing boats accounted for a bulk of the losses.