Nasheed: Government has not fulfilled pledges made to fishermen

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on the government to fulfill the pledges made to fishermen in accordance with MDP’s manifesto.

In an article publicized today, Nasheed said that many concerned fishermen had contacted him to complain regarding the limitation recently imposed on the purchase of fish.

He stressed that the main issue which the fishermen had stressed was the government’s failure to comply with what is stipulated in MDP’s 2018 manifesto.

Noting that all MDP manifestos pledge to ensure fair price for fishermen’s catch – Nasheed said that 2018’s manifesto was also formulated in a manner that is largely based on reaping the benefits of ocean resources.  

“To an extent in 2013’s manifesto – but 2018’s manifesto is a proposal largely based on reaping the benefits of ocean resources. To establish a blue economy. Maximizing profits from the fisheries sector is this policy’s backbone,” he had said.

Nasheed stated that the current administration’s manifesto contains solutions for the biggest obstructions faced in the Maldivian fisheries sector – which is the significant involvement of the government in the sector. He named ‘Neighborhood Fisheries Plant Policy’ referenced in the manifesto as the solution to this.

“A system which allows for to process and pack around 10 ten tons of fish per day. Small factories in the neighborhood where 20 to 30 people work,” he detailed.

Underscoring that prices of raw fish had increased during his administration subsequent to efforts in expanding permit to purchase fish to the private sector – Nasheed said the prices of raw fish had dropped because of new policies created after the government was overthrown.

Reiterating concern over the fact that fishermen do not receive a fair price for their catch – he called on the government to follow MDP’s manifesto.

 “Calling on the government again, to follow the road laid down in MDP’s manifesto. To work on fulfilling the pledges made. To stop increasing the debt of government companies by increasing freezing storage capacity or expanding factories,” he had said.