Minister Shiyam said that while MVR 276 million had been released to fishers since President Muizzu took office, approximately MVR 190 million is due to be released.
Former Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said on Friday that Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam's claim that the government owed approximately MVR 250 million to fishers when President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took office was completely false.
In a post on X, Ameer said that as of November 16, the last day of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, the state fishing company, Maldives Industrial Fishing Company (MIFCO), owed MVR 185 million to fishers.
Ameer said that after the supplementary budget was approved, arrangements were made by the previous government to release funds, and MVR 100 million was allocated for the new government so that MIFCO could pay fishers.
"We released funds on a weekly basis," the former Minister said.
Ameer stated that if the allocated funds were used for other wasteful initiatives, the fishers would not be paid. He emphasized that in the past, the government ensured the release of funds even in more challenging circumstances than the current situation.
However, Minister Shiyam said that the government had released over MVR 276 million to fishers since President Muizzu took office on November 17 of the previous year. He added that funds were released by MIFCO with the support of the President and the government
"With God's blessing, these are good fishing days. With the increasing [in catch] each passing day, there is around MVR 190 million that is unpaid to fishers,” Minister Shiyam said.
He said the government and MIFCO were ramping up the process of acquiring a facility even with a sovereign guarantee at the request of President Muizzu.
In response to a question from a citizen, President Muizzu also said yesterday that he would ensure the fishermen are paid their dues even if it means the state-run company MIFCO has to take a loan.
“We have the guarantee we can give them [the money] very soon. We are in the process of handing over the money to all the fishermen as soon as possible,” President Muizzu said.
Minister Shiyam said that the administration of former President Solih's practice of money printing and 'financial discipline' posed challenges in finding a facility locally as well as internationally. However, he assures that the existing backlog will be cleared soon, and the government will finish making the payments to fishers.
"And other problems in the fishing sector will be addressed so that the fisheries manifesto of this government is implemented properly, and the revenue from fishing increases. The President is at the forefront of resolving these issues,” Minister Shiyam said.
He highlighted that it was not easy for any individual or family to count the days when the fishers were delayed in getting their dues from the government, leading them to become unable to meet their essential needs such as rent, utility bills, and the fulfill needs of their children.
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