No payments owed to fishermen after MVR 250 million in dues settled: Shiyam
Responding to the question in Parliament, Shiyam said MVR 250 million remained unpaid when the previous administration left office.
Top Stories
-
Nasheed warns of hyperinflation as food prices, ferry fares rise
-
Forex bill removing $500 per tourist option set for 1-day review
-
MDP calls for dollar rate to fall to MVR 19 in 10 days
-
Bill seeks to empower MMA to establish national payment switch
-
Govt submits bill to end $500-per-tourist forex option
Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said on Wednesday that the government has settled MVR 250 million in payments owed to fishermen at the end of the previous administration, with no outstanding payments remaining.
Shiyam made the statement during Wednesday's sitting of Parliament in response to a question from Ibrahim Dheedhoo, the PNC MP for Feydhoo South, on the status of payments to fishermen for fish purchased by state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).
Delays in payments for fish purchases have been an issue raised by fishermen under successive governments, with protests held on several occasions over unpaid dues.
In October 2024, MIFCO said its financial position prevented it from providing a date by which pending payments to fishermen could be settled.
The current administration has pledged to clear outstanding payments and ensure fishermen are paid for their catch within 48 hours.
Responding to the question in Parliament, Shiyam said MVR 250 million remained unpaid when the previous administration left office.
"At that time, they raised the price of fish from MVR 17 to MVR 25. Having raised it, they left power on the date you mentioned without paying a single bill to the fishermen, leaving behind MVR 250 million in unpaid dues. Today, not a single laari remains unpaid," Shiyam said.
The minister said the government is now implementing its pledge to make payments for fish purchases within 48 hours.
According to Shiyam, payments for fish purchased by MIFCO are being settled within the 48-hour period.
He said private companies seeking to purchase fish are also required to follow the same payment policy as MIFCO.
Shiyam said the implementation of the policy has addressed delays in payments for skipjack tuna purchases, adding that complaints from fishermen over pending payments are no longer being received.
The government's policy on fisheries payments was introduced after fishermen had repeatedly raised concerns over the time taken to receive money for catches sold to MIFCO and other buyers.
