Fisheries Staff Scattered Across Five Locations as Headquarters Gets EC$580,000 Upgrade 

By S.Browne. Updated 1:03 p.m., Friday, July 17, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Fisheries Division staff have been operating from five different locations within the Ministry of Agriculture as rehabilitation works get underway at their headquarters at the Kingstown Fish Market, with the Government investing approximately EC$580,000 to restore the facility.

According to a July 17, 2026 release from the Agency for Public Information (API), the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has begun a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Fisheries Division Headquarters, with works expected to be completed within approximately six weeks.

Speaking during a site visit on Monday, July 13, 2026, Minister of Fisheries Conroy Huggins explained that the condition of the building deteriorated over several years due to inadequate maintenance of the facility’s six rooftop ventilation towers.

The Minister said the deterioration eventually resulted in extensive water intrusion, mould infestation and unhealthy working conditions, which led to the relocation of Fisheries Division staff in March 2025.

“We are bringing solutions to a longstanding problem,” Minister Huggins said. “This project is expected to be completed within six weeks. Even if an additional week is required, we would still be satisfied because of the scope of works being undertaken.”

The rehabilitation project follows concerns highlighted in the Government’s 2026 Budget Address, delivered by Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Godwin Friday on February 9, 2026.

In the address, Prime Minister Dr Friday stated that “the 2026 budget consultations revealed that the Fisheries Department headquarters is currently a health and safety liability, plagued by persistent mold and equipment dating back to the 1980s.”

He added: “We cannot build a sustainable fisheries sector on a crumbling foundation. Consequently, our 2026 programme prioritizes infrastructure triage: immediate funds are being released to BRAGSA for comprehensive renovations of the Fisheries headquarters to ensure occupational safety.”

As part of the rehabilitation project, the API release stated that all six rooftop ventilation towers at the Fisheries Complex are being renovated. Four towers serving the fish market have already been replaced, while work continues on the remaining two towers serving the Fisheries Division offices.

The release stated that the scope of works includes repairs to roof structures, replacement of damaged ceilings, mould remediation, electrical upgrades, installation of new lighting and power outlets, replacement of office partitions, refurbishment of washrooms, repainting of the building, replacement of office furniture and equipment, and improvements aimed at making the facility more climate-resilient.

Minister Huggins said the building’s louvre windows will also be replaced with full window systems to improve disaster resilience, reduce moisture intrusion and enhance the overall security of the facility.

In a separate interview with SVGTV, Minister Huggins provided further details on the challenges created by the relocation of Fisheries Division staff, explaining that employees have been operating from five different locations within the Ministry of Agriculture.

“My staff, the fishery staff, we are in five different locations and we are all crammed,” Minister Huggins said. “We actually have staff on a rotational basis where some persons, within the week, have at least a day that they work from home because we cannot contain everybody at the same time.”

The Minister said the space constraints have affected operations within the Ministry of Agriculture, noting that some offices are currently being used by other personnel because of the shortage of available workspace.

“I am literally seated in the Minister’s secretary’s office, so it means that the Minister’s secretary is not in her office; she is sitting in the Minister’s office,” Minister Huggins said.

Minister Huggins said the EC$580,000 rehabilitation project includes roof renovations, equipment replacement, furniture and other refurbishment works aimed at restoring the facility to a suitable working environment.

He also explained that mould treatment will form part of the process before employees return to the building.

“Before the staff return, well even before they put in all of the ceiling tiles, we will have just the roof treated again for mould before the staff actually return,” he said.

The API release noted that workers have already removed damaged ceiling tiles throughout the building, exposing areas where prolonged water leaks from the deteriorated rooftop towers caused significant mould growth.

Minister Huggins expressed optimism that Fisheries Division staff will begin returning to the headquarters as rehabilitation works progress.

“Our focus is to restore the Fisheries Division to optimum operation. We have been operating from several locations within the Ministry of Agriculture, and we are looking forward to returning our staff to a modern, safe and functional workplace,” Minister Huggins said.

The rehabilitation comes as the Government continues efforts to strengthen the fisheries sector, which supports livelihoods, food security and economic activity in coastal communities.

Minister Huggins also highlighted that the headquarters project forms part of a wider programme of investment in fisheries infrastructure, noting that several other fisheries-related projects are currently being implemented.

“This is not the only project. As we speak, three to four other fisheries projects are being implemented. In just a few weeks, we have rolled out project after project as part of our commitment to strengthening the sector,” he said.

Once completed, the upgraded Fisheries Division Headquarters is expected to provide staff with a safer and more functional workplace while supporting the Division’s continued work in managing and developing St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ fisheries sector.

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