The government will not agree to only pay protesting fishermen over MVR 298 million owed by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has said.
Shiyam told Adhadhu that some boats have been unable to sell off their catch due to the closure of Kooddoo by the protesting fishermen and that the government cannot agree to only pay the protesting fishermen.
"We will not agree to just make payment to certain people in the lagoon. They are calling me from the north. People who have been unable to enter Kooddoo lagoon are also calling me," he said.
Shiyam said the government will provide the money even if the fishermen were not protesting.
He reiterated calls on the fishermen to stop their protest and go back to work, assuring that the payments will be made by the deadlines offered by the government.
Shiyam highlighted that a meeting will be held with MIFCO officials and the Finance Ministry at 2:00 pm today to resolve the issue of money owed to the fishermen.
“We can [discuss] how much money we have now to pay for the pending bills,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu last night called for an end to the protest.
Speaking at a rally in Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo, Muizzu said the government has been paying what it can to fishermen and that the public should understand the situation.
Fishermen are owed MVR 300 million in outstanding payments. The protesting fishermen have demanded immediate payment for those participating in the protest.
However, MIFCO told the fishermen today that they can only pay for a week at the moment and that the money will be distributed to all boats including those that are not joining the protest.
