MVR 70 million from the full payment of MVR 300 million owed to fishermen has been settled with the remaining MVR 30 million promised to be dispersed this month, set to be distributed before Monday.
Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture has stated that MVR 70 million of the total payment owed to the fishermen by the state has been dispersed.
Kooddoo Fisheries Complex, located in Gaafu Alifu atoll, had resumed operations following a three-day hiatus due to protests on the island.
A statement released by the Ministry Thursday night stated that an amount of MVR 70 million has been deposited by the end of Thursday to reimburse the fishermen and assured that the remaining MVR 30 million will be settled before Monday.
The Ministry had felicitated the fishermen’s decision to resume work as advised by the state and acknowledged the cooperation the Ministry had received from them once the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam personally visited Gaaf Alif Kooddoo upon learning of the protest ongoing at the island during that time.
The Ministry had further expressed concerns on the halted operations of facilities that oversee matters related to the fishing industry during such times, highlighting that fishermen, their families and the companies also face significant losses as a result of this.
Furthermore, the Ministry had assured that their aim to resolve the concerns of the fishermen and develop the industry while increasing income generated from fishing and facilitating improved prosperity for the fishermen’s families. The statement also wrote that procedures to arrange expedited settlement of the full payment owed to fishermen will also commence.
During the protest, the fishermen were demanding for their full payment, refusing to step down until all payments have been settled.
Fisheries Minister Shiyam had stated that following the settlement of the full payments owed to fishermen by the 5th of next month, their efforts will be redirected to facilitate payment assurances for the fishermen within a week of weighing fish at MIFCO.
The government had determined to begin efforts to arrange reimbursement for the fishermen within 48 hours after weighing their catch at MIFCO in the early stages of this administration, as pledged by the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The president had reiterated this vow recently and assured the commencement of this procedure.
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