Despite the abundant resources the fishing industry is not harnessed, minister tells cabinet as he decries lack of inputs
By M.A. Egge
The members of the cabinet on Thursday held their 8th session under the chairmanship of the President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro.
Present was the VP H.E. Mohamed Ali aw Abdi flanking him.
Of note was the fact that several ministers gave briefs on accounts of their ministerial undertakings, some of them extensively and in details such as the fisheries and the livestock dockets.
The fisheries minister has lamented that despite the vast fisheries resources abundant in the country, it has not been exploited at all and has to be harnessed.
He decried lack of both material and skill inputs as the main culprit.
According to a press release by the Presidential spokesman Hussein Adam Deyr, first, the Council heard a report from the Minister of the Interior, who stated that the country’s security was secure and calm, and there were no violence or insecurity challenges except for the occasional misdemeanor crimes and sporadic minor traffic accidents.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development also told the Council that the country’s revenue is increasing day by day. He said that they are greatly accelerating tax collection and that the government will indeed address the depreciation of the Somaliland Shilling.
The Minister of Education on his part presented the National Education Policy to the Council, saying that the policy reflects on the needs of the Somaliland community in terms of education and knowledge at the present time. The policy is planned in a long-term and modern manner, and is based on the National Development Plan III, including the policies of the administration of the day dubbed “Togetherness and Action”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations gave briefs on the progress of the Somaliland Foreign Policy, and specifically focused on the Somaliland Foreign Embassies Act.
The Minister said that diplomacy is the most important system for any country to protect its international interests, promote cooperation and seek the recognition that Somaliland as a country needs; hence the approval of the Foreign Embassies Act is important for building a secure legal system that guides the activities of Somaliland embassies abroad.
The Minister of Planning and National Development briefed the Council on the establishment of the SDF Fund, its structure, management methods, its stages and priority or beneficial projects for national development funded by the SDF.
The Minister gave an in-depth briefing on the priority activities for the development of the people and the country under the SDF Fund, which is the responsibility of the Somaliland Government and the Donor Countries, especially in the areas of economic infrastructure, health, water resources, etc., which enable the Government to provide essential services to the needs of the community.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources briefed the Council in-depth on the resources in the nation’s sea and the fish stocks contain more than 360 species of fish that can be commercially exploited.
The Minister lamented that the exploitation of fish for commerce is very low in the country.
He observed the challenges as: Lack of equipment, lack of skills, lack of investment, lack of knowledge and without a clear National Policy to guide the exploitation of fish and marine resources in our country.
The Minister of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Rural Development briefed the council on:
- The Ministry’s completed Animal Feed Policy
- Information on animal diseases in all regions of the country
- New procedures for treating animals.
- Completion of the Qool-Adey Pastureland Study
- Holding a National Conference to analyze the positive exploitation of our animal resources
- Establishment of a fully-fledged laboratory for testing the health of our animals
- Monitoring the health of the public in dairy markets
- Sanitation of slaughterhouses
- Development of a National Strategy related to Animal Husbandry and Rural Development.
Meanwhile, today’s Cabinet meeting approved the Subcommittees of the council of the cabinet members.