Campbell wants permanent disaster fund to aid farmers, fisherfolk

KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and their devastating consequences, Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Dayton Campbell, is calling for the establishment of a permanent Agricultural and Fisheries Disaster Recovery Fund that would help farmers and fisherfolk bounce back more quickly from the natural phenomena.“This fund should not be created after every hurricane, flood, drought, or major weather event. It should not depend on hurried Cabinet submissions after farmers and fishermen/women have already lost everything. It should not depend on whether the Ministry of Finance is moved by the latest disaster,” said Campbell.He was speaking Tuesday in the House of Representatives, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate.Campbell explained that it should be a standing national fund, financed every year through the national budget, and ready to be activated immediately when a disaster affects the agriculture or fisheries sectors.“The country already knows that Jamaica is exposed to hurricanes, droughts, floods, landslides, storm surge, disease outbreaks, and other climate-related events. We cannot continue to respond to predictable risks with improvised systems,” he said.Campbell, who is also Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, warned that agriculture and fisheries are too important to national food security for the Government to start planning after the damage has already been done. “The Government ought to take a proactive and not a reactive approach,” he told the Parliament.