The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has completed the distribution of the free Japanese donated Yamaha Outboard Engines to established fishery cooperatives in Montserrado County.
It can be recalled that on October 23, 2021, President George Manneh Weah officially launched the Yamaha Outboard Engines in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, at a grand, jammed-packed ceremony which brought together heads of International organizations, including the World Health Organization, (WHO) and the World Bank, among others, as well as top government officials as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minister of Justice.
The first distribution in Montserrado County took place on Friday, January 7, 2022 in the Borough of New Kru Town, Popo Beach fishing community, where fishermen were represented by their respective cooperative leadership. Their leaders received the outboard engines from NaFAA’s team, headed by William Y. Boeh, Deputy Director General for Technical Services, National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority.
The first in the series of two outboard engines distribution exercise in Montserrado County brought together four fishery cooperatives: Banjor Beach United Fisherfolks Cooperative, Kpekor United Fisherfolks, New Kru Town Fisherfolks Cooperative Society and West Point Liberian Fishermen Cooperative Limited.
Banjor Beach United Fisherfolks Cooperative received four outboard engines, ranging from 4—8 horse power, Kpekor United Fisherfolks fishery cooperative received four engines, ranging from 4—8 horse power, and West Point Liberian Fishermen Cooperative Limited received five engines, ranging from 4—15 horse power.
Making the presentation at Popo Beach, Boeh said the distribution of the engines was in fulfillment of President Weah’s commitment to fisherfolks in the nine coastal counties of Liberia.
The NaFAA Deputy Director General for Technical Services urged beneficiaries to use the machines for the intended purpose, which includes unity, empowerment and development for fishery cooperatives.
Also speaking on behalf of the four cooperatives, the Chairperson of the West Point Liberian Fishermen Cooperative Limited commanded President George Weah for taking the plight of fishermen into account by requesting assistance from the Japanese government to help transform their livelihood of fisherfolks.
Romina Blamo, at the same time, urged fishermen who have formed themselves into fishery cooperatives to work collaboratively with the administration of NaFAA for the overall transformation of the lives of all the local fisherfolks.
Blama said, from all indications, NaFAA administration under the leadership of Emma Metieh Glassco has positive plans for the improvement of the Liberian fishery sector.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, January 7, 2021 the outboard engine distribution took place in the King Gray fishing community, Paynesville, where other fishery cooperative leaders from Bernard Beach, King Gray and ELWA Beaches converged to receive their engines.
Fishery cooperatives that benefited from the free outboard engines were ELWA Community Fishery Cooperative Society, King Gray Cooperative and Bernard Beach Fishery Cooperative.
Bernard Beach fishery cooperative received four outboard engines, ranging from 4—8 horse power, King Gray fishery cooperative received four outboard engines, ranging from 4—8 horse power, and ELWA Beach fishery cooperative also received four outboard engines, ranging from 4—8 horse powers
Beneficiaries from the three fishery cooperatives commended the government and people of Japan for the donation, and at the same time lauded President George Manneh Weah for making a case in their favor during his last visit to Japan.
The three fishery cooperative leaderships thanked the leadership of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority, headed by Director General Emma Metieh Glassco, for promptly distributing the Yamaha Outboard Engines.
They noted that, from all indications, it is clear that NaFAA’s leadership is committed to reforming their livelihood, and they promised to work cooperatively to ensure a successful fishery sector.
The fishery cooperatives were established by the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) with support from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
The main Function of the cooperatives, among other things, is to enhance unity, empowerment and development among fisherfolks in the nine coastal counties of Liberia.