Governor delivers federal funds to commercial fishermen

A total of 550 fishermen will receive direct payments of between $7,000 and $15,000 for damages suffered following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón delivered federal funds for commercial fishermen on Thursday.

A total of 550 fishermen will receive direct payments of between $7,000 and $15,000 for damages suffered following hurricanes Irma and Maria.

“The wait for our fishermen is over. With the sense of urgency I proposed to the people of Puerto Rico, in 30 days we saved these federal funds that we secured as a member of Congress. I advocated for them and scrutinized the DNER [Department of Natural and Environmental Resources] for its inaction,” González Colón said at a press conference in Cataño. “Today I am honored to announce that this aid has reached our people.”

The payments, totaling $7,322,164.40, will be distributed this week and next. The governor presented the checks to fishermen from Cataño, Guayama, Humacao, San Juan, Las Piedras, Bayamón, San Sebastián, Cabo Rojo, Arecibo, Maunabo, Loíza and Guaynabo, in the Cataño Fishing Village.

The funds were approved by Congress as part of the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act and allocated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, the DNER had only disbursed $993,961 by January, despite multiple efforts by the then-resident commissioner to expedite distribution of the funds.

After taking office as governor, González Colón ordered the acceleration of the disbursement of the funds. In January, upon learning that payments were still pending due to a rescheduling request submitted by the previous administration, contacts were initiated with NOAA to ensure distribution by March 31 of this year.

The event was attended by DNER Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez, Cataño Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo, and legislators from various regions of the island.