President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says as per his pledge starting tomorrow the payment of fish catch would be deposited to the fishing vessel owner's accounts within 48 hours.
He made these remarks while addressing the residents of Kaafu Gaafaru today.
The President said the fishing industry is an industry that this government is giving high priority to develop.
Noting that the government owed around MVR 225 million to fish vessel owners when he took office, the President said his administration has now paid these dues. He further indicated that around MVR 100 million has been paid as oil subsidies to the fish vessel owners.
However, the President noted that this was not what he had promised during the Presidential Campaign and that he had pledged to pay the fishermen within 48 hours after they weighed their catch. The President said that despite the backlog of payments, the administration will begin implementing his pledge to the fishermen starting tomorrow.
He also assured that the MVR 38 million for the past 14 days will be handed over to the boat owners today and there will be no backlog.
The President that a vital agreement has been reached between the Finance Ministry, MIFCO, and the Bank of Maldives yesterday that would allow the government to deposit payments to fishing vessels that have bank accounts at the BML within 28 hours.
President Muizzu thanked BML and assured fishing vessels with accounts at the Maldives Islamic Bank that he would find alternative paths for them.
