Entrepreneurs feel tricked by LVV

“In the past we were swindled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries (LVV) and we are afraid of giving money again for the manufacturing of badges for our workers which they can use to identify themselves when the Coast Guard is patrolling the sea,” said several local entrepreneurs.

Justice and Police Minister Stuart Getrouw pointed out that no finger can be pointed at the current minister of Fisheries, Lekhram Soerdjan, because he does not know anything about any money. The minister asked the entrepreneurs to have faith in the current minister of Fisheries and to give him room to do his job. An entrepreneur pointed out that she had to register her workers at the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) but that things were not easy because not all of her workers are legally in the country. She asked the minister of badges could be made for the fishermen with their picture and personal information on it. She explained that money was paid to the Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries for a similar project but that the fishermen never received their badges. Fishermen who do not have a legal status reportedly do not have to fear that they will be ‘kicked out of the country’ in case they can’t present their documents to the Coast Guard. Minister Getrouw told the local fishermen that they could contact the police when they are ‘caught’ by the Coast Guard. The minister of Justice and Police explained that he also wants to include the Guyanese in the legalization process and not just the Brazilians and the Chinese. He pointed out that while the people are out fishing in the sea the government will get things rolling to make sure that they get a legal status.