Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam revealed Monday night that MVR 850 million has been distributed to fishermen thus far since President Dr Mohamed Muizzu came into office. A question posed by a civilian on the ‘Ahaa’ forum which allows members of the public to inquire about ongoing work from Ministers had been if fishermen are still being issued their payments and inquired on the amount of funds expended of them thus far. In response to this, Minister Shiyam stated that a large payment of over MVR 250 million owed to the fishermen remained unsettled when the President had assumed his position.
He revealed that these were the payments that were undisbursed following changes made to increase the price of fish on September 16 last year from MVR 17 to MVR 25. He had further acknowledged that challenges were posed in issuing instant payments during this period due to the financial state of the country and affirmed that however, the dues have now been reimbursed.
Minister stated that the backlog was entirely cleared prior to the month of Ramadan through payments made in reimbursement of the weighed fish caught by fishermen. “With Allah’s Will, when I speak today, MVR 850 million has been settled to the fishermen thus far in review of the number I have received since the President assumed office,” said the Minister.
He stated that last he checked, there was MVR 27 million that remained unsettled to the fishermen. He highlighted that this is a number that will increase if the fishermen are not reimbursed for their catch regularly each day. “This is a not an amount that cannot be settled. With God’s Will, after concluding the salaries of this month, the payments that remain unsettled to the fishermen will be settled,” he assured.
The fishermen were begun being issued their payments following a series of protests by the them in Gaafu Alif atoll Kooddoo due to the prolonged delay in issuing owed payments. The government had deliberated with the fishermen during this period after which both sides had settled on an agreement to issue the due payments within an installation scheme.