Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the distribution of the $150,000 cash grant for fisherfolk cannot commence unless the list of fisherfolk is verified across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture is currently conducting a verification process for the list of fisherfolk who would have signed up for the government’s $150,000 one-off cash grant. President Irfaan Ali in May announced the cash grant for fishermen is aimed at providing assistance and expanding the fishing industry, which is currently facing challenges.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha told MTV News Update on Friday that the distribution process would not commence unless that list is verified. “The names of the fisherfolks are placed at different locations across the country for verification, we are very careful in the verification process because we don’t want anyone who is not entitled to receive these grants. So we are looking to ensure the list is verified with the fisherfolk and also residents within the community.” This, Minister Mustapha said will make the process as transparent as possible and it will ensure that all fisherfolk across the country benefit from this intervention. “That will be out for the next two weeks and hopefully we can have a proper list I don’t want a list that you get problems with…I’m hoping by the next two weeks we should have the list verified and sanitised and then after that we’ll pay the grant.” Fisherfolk who have registered for the grant are encouraged to check the lists in the various communities to see if their names are listed. They can also contact the Fisheries Officers in the various regions if they have any questions or queries about the grant.
Persons may also contact any of the officers to report persons listed who are not fisherfolk.
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