The government gave Lucian Blue Ocean a loan from the National Economic Fund of a little over XCD 1-million so that debts owed to fishermen and other expenses could be settled. The loan, according to Agriculture Minister Hon. Alfred Prospere, is to be repaid over fifteen years, with a three-year grace period.

“The cabinet of ministers has decided to assist the Fish Marketing Corporation with a small loan of $1.5 million. Part of this amount is going to be disbursed to Lucian Blue Ocean and some of that is going to outstanding debt which is currently owed to fishermen,” He clarified that fishermen are currently owed XCD 100 000.00 by Lucian Blue Ocean.

Fisherfolk back in 2018 criticised the lease agreement between the current government and the private entity. Currently, Prospere disclosed, that the government is in talks to review the lease agreement for the former Fish Marketing Corporation facilities. “We are in discussion with the institution about the current lease agreement. The cabinet decided to remove the Dennery and Vieux Fort facilities from the previous agreement that was signed by the previous administration. So the Lucian Blue Ocean is the sole facility run by the private institution.”

However, the Lucian Blue Ocean Facility is not without its challenges. For instance, the non-operational ice machine at the facility has triggered the ire of Goodwill Fishermen’s Cooperative Kayiganna Toussaint-Charlery, who describes fishermen as victims. The reality is the real victims here are the fishers, fishery tailors, and the wholesalers, who - for a few weeks now - it has become very difficult for them to obtain ice so that they can preserve their catch or their purchase,” she had told SNO in an earlier interview.