Ameer: Fishermen catching less fish under current government compared to MDP administrations

Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has said that fishermen are not fishing under the current administration compared to previous MDP governments.

Speaking at an MDP rally held on Wednesday evening, Ameer said the Maldivian people are now poorer than they were under any previous administration.

Ameer said items that used to be purchased for MVR 10,000 are now unavailable even for double the amount. “Therefore, if you buy them now, you will have to spend MVR 20,000,” he said.

He said people’s salaries are not high and companies are going bankrupt, adding that Maldivians are now poorer than they have ever been.

“I did a little research and found out. Compared to 2023, every citizen in Maldives will be between 30 percent and 40 percent poor. This is no small thing. In our country, businesses have gone completely bankrupt. Nothing left for more bankruptcy”, former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer.

އެމްޑީޕީގެ ހަރުގެ ޖަލްސާ ކުރިއަށްދަނީ https://t.co/efwq4xoOuc

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) September 2, 2026

Ameer accused the government of impoverishing the people by “putting its hands directly in the pockets of the people,” and described it as a “cursed government.”

“Just look at the fisheries of the country. Fishermen are not catching fish. Compared to our governments, they don't catch any fish now. Just because these people are cursed. As for other businesses in Maldives, there is only the tourism industry. Now it is these people’s curse that is ruining the tourism industry”, former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer.

Ameer said Maldives’ businesses are going bankrupt due to the incompetence of the government, repeatedly stating that people are becoming poor because of the government’s “stupidity.”

Ameer’s remarks come as statistics from the state-owned fish company, MIFCO, show a decline in fishing compared to July last year.