A Generous Donation from Taiwan to the Fisheries Department

This morning, the new Minister of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation gave his maiden address at a handing over event where the Taiwanese Ambassador presented several pieces of equipment to the Fisheries Department.  It is part of a regional initiative called INCAVPESCA and the focus of the effort today is the fight against COVID-19 in the fisheries sector.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The ravages of COVID-19 are being felt across all economic sectors, together with fisheries where stakeholders are equally exposed to and affected by the pandemic.  With a new government comes a new ministry that has expanded its scope to include everything under the banner of the blue economy.

Andre Perez

Andre Perez, Minister of the Blue Economy

“This new ministry has the important responsibility of securing the right equilibrium between protecting and preserving our rich ocean ecosystem while benefiting from the sustainable use of the ocean resources for economic growth and improvement of livelihoods.  The fishing industry, without a doubt is an integral part of this new blue economy.  Working together with the fisheries sector, we intend to take advantage of the great potential of this sector for increased economic activity.”

Belize’s relationship with Taiwan continues to see both countries working closely to address socioeconomic, as well as other challenges, COVID-19 now being one of those issues.  Today, under an existing initiative known as INCAVPESCA, equipment was handed over by Taiwanese Ambassador Remus Li Kuo Chen to the Fisheries Department which will also aid in the work of the Belize Fisheries Cooperative Association.

Remus Li Kuo Chen

Remus Li Kuo Chen, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize

“As of November twenty-fifth, yesterday, Taiwan has only six hundred and twenty-three confirmed cases and seven deaths, in the context of managing a population of almost twenty-four million.  Furthermore, it’s been over two hundred days without any locally transmitted cases in Taiwan.  Meanwhile, life at work will remain unchanged and pretty much the same for the majority of people there.  Today there are some equipment, medical materials, including COVID-19 testing booths, and laptops will be donated as an integral part of the enhancement precaution measures against the devastating virus which will benefit fishermen cooperatives and associations here, the Belize Fisheries Department and also other related stakeholders.”

Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade contextualizes the importance of the fisheries sector.

Beverly Wade

Beverly Wade, Fisheries Administrator

“In 2019, we saw an increase in fisheries production of about 20.8% which resulted in total revenues for our catch or fisheries sector of just over twenty-one million U.S. dollars.  That also benefits directly some three thousand licensed fishermen in Belize and when you look at our national population that is significant and by extension when you look at those three thousand fishers and their families and the indirect enterprises associated with fisheries, this sector remains one of the pillars of our national economy.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.