The amount owed to fishermen for their catch bought by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) has neared MVR 80 million despite President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu saying that arrangements will be made for settling payments within 48 hours.
A reliable source told Adhadhu that MIFCO last paid fishermen earlier last month. The amount owed to the fishermen since then has reached nearly MVR 80 million. MIFCO is facing difficulties in disbursing the money due to delays in receiving subsidies from the government.
With the Eid holiday less than a week away, fishermen are complaining about the delay in receiving their payments from MIFCO.
MIFCO media officer, Ibrahim Saeed (Keydu) told Adhadhu that they are working to pay the outstanding money to the fishermen as soon as possible.
“We are working to pay the money as soon as possible,” he said.
He said MIFCO is also facing difficulties in receiving funds and is working hard to solve the issues.
President Muizzu made a pledge to pay fishermen for their catch within 48 hours.
Our aim is to establish the mechanism for fishermen receiving [payments] in 48 hours. I am someone who acts as I pledge. We're doing the work of reaching the target. We will reach that target," he said.
However, fishermen have been frustrated by the government's failure to fulfill the pledge.
At the last press conference held by the Fisheries Ministry, Minister Ahmed Shiyam said the government was working to find way to pay the money owed to the fishermen and the Finance Minister was also working to find ways to "breathe financially."
"We can see that there can be a bright path. If we reach that path, MIFCO will get a big relief too. It will also be a little easier for the state to pay the subsidy to MIFCO. Then it will be easier to make payments to fishermen," he said.
Shiyam said MVR 881 million has been paid to fishermen since President Muizzu assumed office.
A kilo of fish was sold for MVR 25 when the current government began work. However, the fishermen were not paid for the catch bought by MIFCO and they staged protests demanding immediate payment.
In February, fishermen took over the Kooddoo fish factor during a protest and the protest ended when a large percentage of the money owed was paid to the fishermen.
Since then, the government has brought down the price of a fish kilo to MVR 20 and pledged to make payments to fishermen within 48 hours.
