Government working to deliver pledges to fishermen: Minister Shiyam

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam says the government is working to deliver on the promises President Dr Mohamed Muizzu made to fishermen during his election campaign.

Speaking at the Masveringe Gunzar in Raa Atoll Dhivaafaru, where the government is marking this year’s Fishermen’s Day, Shiyam said most of the president’s pledges stemmed from longstanding problems in the industry. Despite the scale of the commitments, he said the administration remained intent on fulfilling them.

“Some of the promises take a little time because they require financial arrangements,” Shiyam said.

“But we have organized the work in a way that will allow us to meet almost all of the pledges he made.”

The minister thanked fishermen for their support, adding that many of the challenges they face are longstanding and take time and money to resolve.

The Maldives’ fishing industry, he said, has long been shaped in a way that requires government support, as is the case in some other countries.

He noted that one of the most difficult issues for any government is managing cashflow when global fish prices fall below the domestic purchase price set by the state. This, he said, has been a challenge for all administrations, not just the current one.