Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has said today that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to arrange payments for fish weighed and sold by fishermen within 48 hours of the sale would be fulfilled in the early days of this term.
Shiyam made this statement in parliament today, responding to a question posed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ismail Ahmed of Dhuvaafaru constituency. The MP said that despite the 48 hour promise, payments had failed to be made even after 48 days.
Minister Shiyam responded that unlike the previous governments that had left fulfilling their pledges until near the end of their administration, or even after the first round of presidential elections, this government would prioritize fulfilling pledges promptly.
Especially, he said, the government would ensure the pledges concerning fishermen are fulfilled at the beginning of this term.
Shiyam said that the biggest challenges faced this time in paying the fishermen their dues is the change brought to the price of fish by the previous government, and the financial difficulties the government is facing.
Fishermen have been protesting in Kooddoo against unpaid dues for two days now.
They refused to cease their protests despite being offered an immediate payment of MVR 100 million, with the rest to be paid at the beginning of March.
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