–as part of efforts to improve Guyana’s response to illegal fishing, President Ali says

THE Government of Guyana is in talks with French officials to have a large ship stationed in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone to prevent the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars due to illegal fishing.

This was according to President, Dr Irfaan Ali, during his remarks at the Private Sector Commission’s (PSC’s) corporate dinner at the Marriott Hotel, on Monday evening.

Addressing the issue of security, President Ali said that the government is working on further fortifying Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and negotiations are ongoing with the French to have a large ship here.
“There is one ship that is coming in very shortly, then we have negotiations going on now with the French to have a mothership established in our EEZ,” he said.

This, the Head of State related, comes at a high cost, but one that has to be incurred as the country is losing some hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of illegal fishing in that zone.
“What is told to us, we are losing hundreds of millions of dollars from illegal fishing from our EEZ, that is boats coming in within our EEZ,” President Ali remarked.

Late last month, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said that Guyana will significantly increase investments in its defence capabilities.
He indicated that more must be spent on defence to ensure that the capability grows to protect the country.

At that time, the Vice-President noted that one of the key drivers behind increased investment in defence is the protection of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Jagdeo said that officials found out that Guyana is losing over $100 million per year in illegal fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone. As such, he indicated that commitments were made to ensure that Guyana could procure radar capability and interception capability among others.