President: Policies will be shaped based on input from industry workers

The government will shape its policies based on input from the workers of different industries, says President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

In a video message on Monday morning, President Muizzu said he has two important meetings scheduled for the day, the first of which is a meeting with the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) – a union of yellowfin tuna fishermen in the Maldives.

“The government’s policy is to move forward by listening to the workers of respective industries,” he said.

“The government’s goal and the government’s policy is to shape things by listening to the people working in each industry.”

President Muizzu said his second meeting is with housing associations. He will meet with representatives from the Fahi Union, Giraavaru, Male’ Citizens Association and Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Association.

President Muizzu said he will allow them to freely share their concerns and opinions.

“These organizations and committees represent a large number of people. Therefore, meeting them will clarify a lot of things,” he said.

ބޮޑުކަންނެލި މަސްވެރިންގެ ޔޫނިއަންގެ އިސް ބޭފުޅުންނާއި އަދި ގެދޮރުވެރިކަމާބެހޭ އެކި ޔޫނިއަންތަކުގެ ބޭފުޅުންނާ ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ މިއަދު ބައްދަލުކުރައްވަނީ

މި ދެބައްދަލުވުމަކީ ވަރަށް 'ލުކް ފޯވާޑް' ކުރާ އަދި އެމަނިކުފާނަށް މުހިންމު ދެ ބައްދަލުވުންކަމުގައި ފާހަގަކުރެއްވި pic.twitter.com/tcC8FQ0Y0q

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) September 2, 2024

Last week, the president dropped plans to reopen longline fishing in Maldives following concern from the BKMU.

The President’s Office said on Thursday that President Muizzu would be meeting with representatives from the BKMU and other stakeholders to hold further discussions regarding the decision.

The cabinet made the decision to open longline fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna on June 13. The Fisheries Ministry subsequently released draft regulations, which included provisions for the management of bycatch species such as sharks. While targeted shark fishing remains prohibited, the regulation allowed for non-targeted bycatch species, including sharks, caught in longline fishing to be landed and processed in specially licensed facilities.

The plan to reopen longline fishing had sparked concern from fishermen, as well as tourism and environmental groups.

The BKMU said that reopening longline fisheries would allow large foreign fisheries companies to dominate the sector and crowd out local fishermen.

Maldives opened longline fisheries in 2012. But the practice was banned again in 2019.

Commenting on the decision to drop the plan, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam said that President Muizzu found the concerns of local fishermen far outweighed the potential profits from opening longline fishing.