By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

FISHERFOLK in Sheet Anchor, East Canje Berbice, have expressed their appreciation for what they described as major advancements in the local fishing industry under the leadership of the PPP/C government.
According to young fisherman Antonio Persaud, the sector has seen a noticeable transformation in recent years.

He expressed gratitude for the support and investments made by the current administration, especially from the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha.
“The fishing industry from Sheet Anchor and surrounding areas have benefitted tremendously,” Persaud said, adding: “Since the PPP government and the ‘Agri’ Minister Zulfikar, everything establish more, more promptly, and in a more productive manner; everything is there.”

Persaud noted that a new landing site and shed are set to be developed at the location used by the fishermen; this is a plan that is already approved.
“Everything done approve, so we looking forward to get everything shortly,” he stated optimistically.
Reflecting on past struggles, Persaud contrasted the current situation with what was observed and experienced under the past administration.
“From the last administration to now, everything get better, easier…We can afford certain things we never had; we looking forward still to get better things coming,” he added.
Another Sheet Anchor fisherman, Kamta Persaud, echoed similar sentiments. He highlighted the absence of a functioning ‘coop’ in the past, which forced fishermen to operate individually without much organisational

support.
“We working all the time; but before we didn’t really had no Coop, so we had to do everything by we-self. But now our coop now started a process of running, and, hopefully, what we was told that we gonna get our own landing site and own building,” he said.

Persaud also stressed the need for a designated and properly maintained landing site. At present, he said, the fishermen carry out all upkeep themselves, but the land they use is not theirs.
“The one we use, we do the maintenance by our own self, and the land doesn’t belong to us, so anybody come and use the landing site and we can’t say anything about it,” he said.
He believes the construction of a new facility will help curb misuse and neglect, allowing the fishermen to have more control and implement necessary regulations.
“People does come and damage the wharf and just move away; so all of that will stop,” he added.
Grateful for the government’s promise of a dedicated facility, Persaud expressed heartfelt appreciation.
He said: “We really glad you know; we really glad, the minister decided to give us our own land, and build a wharf for us… So, we are all thankful for that, because, in the future, we will be able to move forward better.”

BRIGHTER FUTURE
The fishermen of Sheet Anchor remain hopeful that continued support and infrastructural development will ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for the industry and the community at large.

Meanwhile, veteran voices from the fishing industry are also speaking out about what they described as an unprecedented level of support and responsiveness under the PPP/C government.
With more than four decades of experience at sea, seasoned fishermen are acknowledging a transformative shift that has brought new hope and tangible improvements to their livelihoods.
Ramkumar Mattadin, a fisherman with over 42 years in the trade, reflected on the state of the industry with a sense of optimism not often heard in years past.
He emphasised that the changes being experienced now far surpass anything he’s witnessed before.

“Things been never deh so good like how we get it now, we could approach the Minister of Agriculture for anything and he respond to us,” Mattadin shared.
His remarks reflect a broader sentiment among fishermen who say they now feel seen, heard, and valued in ways that were previously uncommon.
He elaborated further, expressing gratitude for the direct relationship they have built with Minister Mustapha.

“He try reach we needs, but things got to done at times… He promise we things what we never expect that we could a get, and so far, everything that them doing they trying their best,” he said.
One of the notable developments mentioned by Mattadin is the inclusion of local fishermen in the government’s expanding brackish water shrimp project, an initiative aimed at diversifying income sources and improving financial stability for those in the fishing sector.

“The minister doing a good job because he thinking about us all the time; any time we call him we could get him,” he affirmed, highlighting the minister’s accessibility and genuine concern for the welfare of fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, Ameir Decona of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, another veteran with over 40 years of experience at sea, shared similar sentiments about the advancements taking place in the sector.
According to Decona, the difference between the current administration and the previous one is stark.

“Under this government, fishermen, myself, we receive a lot of benefits, the previous administration done nothing for fisherman, and there’s a lot of benefits yet to come in this other term of government,” Decona said.
He added that what sets the current Minister of Agriculture apart is his willingness to engage directly with the fishing community.

According to Decona, the minister regularly holds on-the-ground consultations to discuss matters of concern, gather feedback, and offer guidance based on the real-life experiences of the fishermen themselves.
Decona’s acknowledgment of these engagements points to a collaborative approach between the government and local stakeholders, something many in the industry believe is critical for continued development.
“Everything he promised us so far he fulfilled; everything,” the fisherman said.

As the fishing industry in Berbice evolves with new investments, infrastructure projects, and inclusive economic opportunities like the shrimp expansion, fishermen who have spent their lives in the trade say they are now finally seeing the kind of support that was long overdue.

With experienced voices like Mattadin and Decona praising the government’s proactive involvement, there is growing optimism that the sector will not only survive, but thrive in the years ahead.