About the programme:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Barbados have established a programme to provide financial assistance to the fishing community which is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The storm left hundreds in the fishing sector with significant losses and caused damage to the industry’s infrastructure.
Who is eligible to register for the programme:
The WFP Hurricane Beryl Fisheries Support Programme targets persons in the fisheries sector who were actively working in the industry at the time of the Hurricane Beryl on 1st July 2024, specifically:
· Boat agents who did not get the Government of Barbados Business Interruption Benefit
· Fish vendors who did not receive financial assistance from the Barbados Red Cross Society
How to register for the programme:
Persons from the above groups should come to the Barbados Fisheries Division in Bridgetown between Tuesday, 14thJanuary – Friday, 17th January, from 9:30am-4:00pm.
To register for the programme, individuals must bring:
· Valid government-issued photo ID (e.g. passport, identification card, driver’s licence)
· Fisher’s Industry Identification Card
How will I know if I was successful?
Once registration is completed, all forms will be reviewed based on the programme’s criteria. A WFP representative will call boat agents and fish vendors who qualify with instructions on the next steps of the process and how they will receive money.
How much financial assistance will be given?
· Boat agents who meet the criteria will receive three monthly payments of BBD$1500.00. This amount is equivalent to the government's Business Interruption Benefit provided to eligible boat owners. The assistance to boat agents will be provided via a debit card.
· Fish vendors will receive BBD$600.00 over 3 months. This amount is equivalent to the financial assistance provided by the Barbados Red Cross Society to other eligible fish vendors. The assistance to fish vendors will be provided via Western Union.
For further information:
For any queries and feedback, contact the WFP hotline at (246) 286-4807. The hotline is open Mondays-Fridays, 9:00am-1:00pm.
