Fishers in the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve now have access to a loan program tailored for their needs. It's a collaboration between the government, World Wildlife Fund, the Development Finance Corporation of Belize, and Wildlife Conservation Society that is focused on supporting license artisanal fishers. Right now, it's just a pilot project, and it will be rolled out nationally in 2025.
At the launch ceremony today, the CEO of DFC gave us more details on the program itself. However, the ceremony was cut short due to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance's schedule, which meant that the very same fishers being affected didn't have the opportunity to speak at the podium. Instead, they were ushered into a more private meeting.
So while they were satisfied with the program themselves, one fisher, who is the President of the Hopkins Fisherman Association and the President of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve explained that they didn't appreciate being cut out of the program.
Henry Anderson, CEO, DFC
"What we're going, we have developed like four loans. The fishers can access money to buy boats, buy engines, that's a capital loan. They can get monies to maintain the boats, the engines and their gear. They can get money to maintain their gear like the fishing pots and stuff. They can get working capital, at the beginning of the season you need to mobilize and get ready, in some cases some fishers hire other people, they need to buy food and everything so we could do that or we could do revolving line of credits for those who are more established and they have a program that they do year after year, we could do that. As was mentioned here we have loan rates ranging from 8.5 to 12% variable and we especially look at women to get more women and young people involved and so we work to lend them at the lower end of the scale. Also women are actually better payers so they are less risk and is we're able to provide loans for women at around 8.5%."
Clyde Martinez, Coordinator, Hopkins Fishermen Coop
"For me, after hearing different comment, so me it's a good opportunity for us. One of the things that affect the fishers is that they really don't understand, they need more explanation because they think that it is a loan and when they hear the percentage is 8 and 12, they think it's still high, they're still afraid of it but if we compare it to the bank system, you don't get the opportunity to pay if you have a timeframe you are not able to pay."
Norman Castillo, President, Hopkins Fisherman Association
"The loan program is excellent, it's a first time in history that fishermen will be getting something, if they do get it. It means that we are applying for a loan, it's a loan, it's not a grant, so if we are being granted that, we'll be okay with that, and fisherfolk really appreciate that but today was a day I was upset in terms of saying we were supposed to be on the agenda to speak on the podium so I could talk to the whole country but we were rejected now we're going to talk in a small room with certain people, that was totally not on the agenda."
Courtney Menzies:
"You also, I would assume, wanted to speak in front of Ms Garcia, the CEO, and Mr Coye as well."
Norman Castillo, President, Hopkins Fisherman Association
"That was my whole agenda. I wanted to give a message to Mr Coye and Narda, the reason for that is that fishermen get nothing from nowhere in this country. We get nothing, so I wanted to explain to her and Mr Coye that when will fishermen get something for themselves. Even for me, to travel to talk to my fisherfolk in this country, I got to use my own finance, my own fuel, my vehicle, nobody give us anything, there's no finance for fishermen nowhere or form."
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