MP Qasim said that private companies in the fisheries sector must also benefit from incentives offered to MIFCO, such as free rent and subsidies. He said that none of the past three governments had attempted to advance the sector to facilitate such benefits.
Chairperson of the parliament's Public Accounts Committee and MP of the Maamigili Constituency, Qasim Ibrahim, has stated that private sectors should not have to pay rent to the state if no rent is charged from the state-owned fishing company, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd (MIFCO). He added that private companies must also be given subsidies which are being given to MIFCO.
Speaking on the case of issuing payments in US dollars for fishermen, which was submitted to the Public Accounts Committee by South Hulhumale' MP Dr Ahmed Shamheed, Qasim said that the state must also provide other companies with the same incentives offered to MIFCO.
Qasim added that none of the past three administrations had made attempts to assist private companies engaged in the fisheries sector.
"The past three administrations had not made any adequate efforts to advance the [fisheries] industry in a way that increases foreign exchange revenues to allow provision of incentives for fishermen," said Qasim.
MP Qasim said that despite Horizon Fisheries Pvt Ltd, a fisheries company run under him, making a large investment of MVR 250 million in the industry, the State had still refused to provide a loan to develop the company's infrastructure.
"Even now, the facilities we have built [will exceed] the government's infrastructure, places in Laamu Atoll Mandhoo and Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Hoandedhdhoo. However, have [still] not received. I pleaded with the State to lend me MVR 100 million in loans until the Hoandedhdhoo investment is completed, under an installment plan for 5 years. They didn't even respond," he said.
Qasim said he had personally reached out to the State to address the loan issue and claimed that aid and loans were offered solely to certain groups of people during the former administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He added that this was how businesses in the fisheries industry were treated during the former government.
Speaking further on the case, MP Shamheed stated that solely considering the price in determining the rate of fish is impractical and added that a large amount of fish purchased from fishermen are canned.
MP Shamheed said that fishermen should not bear the brunt of losses faced by MIFCO and reiterated that subsidies offered by the State must also be extended to fishermen selling fish to the private sector.
"Fishing is not conducted every day. The price set must ensure continuity. It's unclear if fishing will be halted on slow days at yesterday's announced rate. Research must be done before such actions," he said.
The debate had escalated between committee members, and the audio was cut from the parliament's live stream on YouTube. The events that occurred within the committee afterward remain unclear.
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