Fisheries Minister: Low participation in Beyas Nubeyas shows its success

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Mohamed Shainee has said that the low support for the income insurance scheme for fishermen, Beyas Nubeyas, is a sign of the scheme’s success.

In an interview to Sun Online today, Shainee denied rumours that the scheme has failed.

“Our aim is to ensure that every fisherman receives a minimum monthly income of MVR 10,000. Fishermen opt not to participate in the insurance scheme because they earn more than that. In fact, many fishermen have told us that they make more than MVR 10,000 on average, and that it is not important for them to participate in a scheme that gives less,” said Shainee.

He added that Maldivians do not have the habit of saving for the future, and that challenges are being faced as this scheme involves introducing an idea that is not part of the culture.

Dr Shainee said that the government also gives high priority to encouraging youth to join the fisheries industry, and that Fisheries Ministry created 1000 new jobs last year alone.

“Many people don’t want to work even after being offered jobs. Voluntary unemployment and job creation are two different issues. The government cannot force people to work,” he said.

He also referred to islands leased for agriculture and said that the government would revoke agreements regardless of the profile of the people the islands have been leased to, if the islands stand idle.