Fishers' subsidy unfair, rate cuts necessary: Deputy Speaker

Parliament Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim on Tuesday said, the subsidy provided to local fishers was unfair.

He urged to revise fish purchase rates of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), and reduce it to reflect the standard market rates.

Maradhoo MP, Ahmed Didi from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Tuesday's parliamentary sitting, submitted an emergency motion seeking a permanent solution on the continued delays in settling outstanding payments to fishers.

The emergency motion demanded state to settle the outstanding payments to fishers within 48 hours.

The motion submitted by MDP, was approved at Tuesday's sitting with a total of 74 votes, including the backing from ruling PNC as well.

While debating on the matter, the Deputy Speaker and Dhiggaru MP said the rates set by MIFCO in purchasing fish were unreasonable, adding this was because the purchase prices from fishers are higher than global rates.

"MIFCO suffers an eight kilo loss for each kilo it exports at this rate. However, the rates need to be revised to ensure sustainability in fish purchases, which is possible if the rates are brought down to a reasonable range," Nazim commented.

He however, stressed the state must pay for the fish it already purchased from local fishers without any price revisions.

And said the current economic conditions were unfavorable in paying the outstanding payments, adding the debt was inherited by the current administration.

"We need to consider revising these prices, which is compulsory right now," Nazim said.

Nazim also said that the fishers' population in Maldives is 17,000 out of which 3,700 were yellowfin tuna fishers. He also said 614 vessels are registered to sell fish to MIFCO currently.

The Deputy Speaker argued spending a significant portion on providing subsidy to the local fishers' community was unfair.

"We have 35,000 individuals employed as civil servants, and over 15,000 others working in hospitality sector. But we are extending subsidy only to these 17,000 fishers, and that is not fair," he said.

"We need to reconsider this, and we must look beyond our party colors and its policies when seeking solution for this."

He also argued if the price kilo of fish is between 12 and 15, the rates should be fixed at a reasonable range, which he added would ensure in uninterrupted payments to fishers.

Fishers have been protesting at the Addu Fisheries Complex (AFC) since last Friday. The situation later intensified after fishers cut power to the complex, halting all of its operations.

While MVR 46 million out of the outstanding MVR 90 million was disbursed ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, government said it was working on arranging the remainder soon.

Meanwhile, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam said the state's top priority for this week would be to resolve the issues local fishers faced, including the settlement of overdue payments.

He however, did not specify the exact date sate can settle the outstanding total.

The minister also, had repeatedly said that the state can fulfill its pledges only after the country's economic conditions improve.