Campbell wants permanent disaster fund to aid farmers, fisherfolk

Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Dayton Campbell, is advocating for a permanent Agricultural and Fisheries Disaster Recovery Fund in Jamaica. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Campbell argued that the fund should be a standing national resource, financed annually through the national budget, rather than being created reactively after each natural disaster.

“

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.

Campbell emphasized that Jamaica's exposure to hurricanes, droughts, floods, and other climate-related events necessitates a proactive approach. He stated that the country cannot continue to respond to predictable risks with improvised systems. The fund should be ready for immediate activation to help farmers and fisherfolk recover swiftly from devastating losses.

“

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 highlighted the critical importance of agriculture and fisheries to national food security, asserting that these sectors are too vital to be left vulnerable to delayed responses. Campbell urged the government to shift from a reactive stance to one that anticipates and prepares for the inevitable impacts of natural phenomena on these key industries.

“

The Government ought to take a proactive and not a reactive approach.