Fishermen protesting in Kooddoo on Sunday over non-payment for fish catch rejected the Fisheries Minister’s appeal for more time to settle MVR 298 million owed by the government.
Complaining about the lack of any payments for two months, fishermen entered the Kooddoo Fisheries Complex and protested since Sunday morning. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam went to the island later in the day to talk to the protesting fishermen.
“This is a difficult moment. God willing, we will proceed with the vision we brought to fishermen then, God willing, we will during President Dr. [Mohamed] Muizzu’s five years. The families of fishermen won’t be impoverished,” Shiyam told the fishermen. “I am saying just give us a little time.”
However, fishermen said they did not trust the government’s word and that enough time had passed to make the payments. The fishermen called for payments to be made during February instead of waiting for March 5 as the minister said.
Speaking to the fishermen, Shiyam said the government has been working hard and exploring various avenues to secure the funds needed to make the payments. The assurance of paying before March 5 was based on that work, he said.
“Maldivian banks, the Finance Ministry, our ministry and MIFCO [Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company] are working together to find a way to get this money. Work has been done,” the minister said. “That’s why I can say that we will solve this before March 5.”
Some of the fishermen who protested yesterday told Adhadhu that they have become indebted and cash-strapped due to the delayed payments. Loans have been taken to pay for essential services, some of them said.
“We can’t live without electricity, right? I have paid the electricity bill now after getting money one way or the other. But the internet has been disconnected from home,” a fisherman said.
