President Muizzu: Fishermen dues will be paid even if it entails a loan

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Thursday, assured the dues for fishermen will paid, even if it entails taking a loan from the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd. (MIFCO).

He gave the assurance while speaking at a series titled ‘Raees ge javaabu’ (President's answer) launched by the President's Office today; a platform that enables the public to get direct responses to their queries from the President via social media.

In response to the question posed by fishermen, enables the public to get direct responses to their queries from the President via social media, President Muizzu said that fishermen’s dues amounting to MVR 250 million remained unpaid when his administration took office.

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1 ފެބްރުއަރީ 2024

ހދ. ނޮޅިވަރަންފަރު، ހިޖުރަ، ޢަބްދުލްޣަނީ، މަސްވެރީންނަށް ނުދެވިހުރި ފައިސާއާ ބެހޭގޮތުން ކުރެއްވި ސުވާލަށް، ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ދެއްވި ޖަވާބު pic.twitter.com/vaacwJa2kS

— Government of Maldives (@governmentmv) February 1, 2024

Noting that the administration has paid twice as much as MVR 200 million in dues since assuming office, he stressed that a sizable sum is yet to be distributed to the fishermen.

President Muizzu further declared that efforts were underway to ensure the fishermen received instant access to the total due amount. He went on to state that arrangements would be made in this regard.

Fishermen have raised concern on social media over non-payment of money owed to fish sold by them subsequent to which some vessels have been obstructed from continuing fisheries operations.