A major fisheries infrastructure project valued at US$5.2 million has started in Saint Lucia.
The project will upgrade equipment and machinery at five fisheries landing facilities in the communities of Vieux Fort, Dennery, Castries, Gros Islet and Anse La Raye. The project is funded by the Government of Japan under the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed in 2014 between Saint Lucia and Japan.
The major improvements include the installation of two submerged Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) off the west coast of Saint Lucia; a solar powered ice machine at Dennery; upgrades to freezing and ice making at the Vieux Fort Fisheries Complex and Anse La Raye; a new ice plant for Gros Islet; and new equipment for the Saint Lucia Fish Marketing Company.
Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste, Minister for Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries, Co-operatives and Rural Development said the Government of Saint Lucia appreciates the substantial grant by the Government and people of Japan to the people of Saint Lucia.
"The people of Japan continue their long history of friendship and support to our fisheries sector and to the livelihood of thousands of our people," he said. "This project will make ice and modern equipment more available to fishers and fisher cooperatives and help make some of the operations of the Fish Marketing Company more efficient."
As a result of the work, operations at the landing facilities will be briefly affected, but all major works are expected to be completed by May 2016.
Upgrades and the construction of new facilities in other communities, such as Laborie, Micoud and Choiseul are also being considered.
