MP Shakir: Legislative changes made without stakeholder consultation is costing billions

Consulting with the stakeholders involved is absolutely necessary when amending laws, said Maavah MP Ahmed Shakir on Tuesday, warning that failure to conduct stakeholder consultation when making legislative changes is leading to billions of Rufiyaa in wasted public funds.

Shakir, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), made the remark on Tuesday while debating on an amendment proposed by the government to the Fisheries Act.

Joining the debate on the bill, sponsored by South Thinadhoo MP Mohamed Alsan Ahmed, Shakir said that making “whatever changes to laws, whenever,” will have an adverse impact on the state’s finances.

He said that such changes are causing major losses to the state.

Shakir said that there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account when changing the Fisheries Act, given that the fisheries sector is subject to seasonal changes, and comprises different types of fisheries.

“These changes that are being made every time, without proper consultation with the stakeholders involved, is resulting in the wastage of billions, millions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alsan states that the bill is designed to establish an effective system to protect the country’s marine resources, and stop illegal fisheries.

However, Shakir cautioned that legislative changes shouldn’t be unilateral, and that what is important is to consult with stakeholders and experts and affect sustainable changes.