MDP: Govt unable to disburse dues to fishermen due to incompetence

The main opposition MDP has accused the government of incompetence over the delay in disbursement of outstanding payments to fishermen.

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the new administration has disbursed over MVR 400 million in outstanding payments to fishermen since it took office in November, and will settle the remaining MVR 280 million in dues within the next two weeks.

The delay in the disbursement of payments has prompted fishermen to stage a strike in GA. Koodoo, which houses a Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) fisheries complex.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MDP called on the government to settle the dues as soon as possible.

“The MDP administration has disbursed dues to fishermen within an appropriate period of time even during the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the doors for state revenue were completely closed,” said the party.

MDP said that the three-month delay in payment of dues to fishermen – which they depend on as a source of livelihood – was a result of government’s incompetence.

The MDP said it found the situation unacceptable.

“It is a result of sheer incompetence of the government that while it is unable to pay fishermen the rightful rate for their catch, it is also holding the source of their livelihood for nearly three months now,” said the party.

MDP said that the new administration had promised in its manifesto to pay fishermen in US dollars within 48 hours. The party accused the administration of violating its pledge on its very first day in office.

MDP alleged that while the administration refuses to pay fishermen their dues, it continues to spend freely on political appointments and campaigns.

MDP also alleged that the administration planned on lowering the minimum fish purchase rate to MVR 15 in Ramadan. However, Shiyam, who was summoned by the Parliament for questioning earlier on Tuesday, told the legislative body that the rate will not fall below MVR 20.

Shiyam said that the decision by the MDP administration to increase the fish purchase rate from MVR 17 to MVR 25 in September 2023, had resulted in major financial losses to MIFCO. He previously called the move “unresearched” and a “political trick” to win votes in the presidential elections.

The new administration reduced the rate to MVR 20 on February 11.

Shiyam told the Parliament on Tuesday that even with the new rate, MIFCO is purchasing fish at a loss of MVR 6 per kilo.

Shiyam said that MIFCO generated MVR 395 million as revenue since the new administration took over, but has disbursed MVR 435 million in dues. He said that an additional MVR 100 million will be disbursed next week, and the rest settled by March 5.

Fishermen have threated to continue the strike until they receive their payments in full.