Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said all outstanding dues to local fishers have been settled as of Friday, March 08, 2024.
The new administration led by President Muizzu claimed it inherited a backlog of MVR 250 million in outstanding dues to local fishers when it took office in November 2023.
Delays in disbursement of the outstanding dues sparked protests in February 2024.
Dr. Muizzu promised this administration would clear the backlog before Ramadan.
In a post on X on Sunday, President Muizzu said the backlog has been cleared as promised. He said, “With the disbursement today, fishermen have been paid all their dues as of Friday, and the backlog has been cleared in its entirety”.
The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam said the current administration has paid a total of MVR 787 million to local fishers, and added this includes the backlog of MVR 250 million as well.