Jul 5, 2021
Tracy Panton
About two weeks ago we showed you a group of angry fisherfolk who want G.O.B. to repeal Statutory Instrument fifty-seven of 2021 which was gazetted back in May. According to the fishermen, they were only recently made aware that the Minister of Blue Economy Andre Perez signed the new S.I. which amended the Fisheries Regulations to reverse the ban on permanent residents to obtain commercial fishing licenses. With the adjustments to the Act, the permanent residency card is now accepted as form of I.D. for the application process. Going forward, the regulations state that license will not be granted to an applicant unless the applicant is a Belizean by birth or naturalization or a permanent resident. During Friday’s House Meeting, Area Representative for the Albert Division Tracy Panton made an appeal on behalf of the local fisherfolk to which Minister Perez responded.