Aman Ibrahim, a young fisherman from Addu, says that if civil servants did not receive their salaries on time, they would understand the current feelings of fishermen.
Twenty-two-year-old Aman Ibrahim, who is among the fishermen protesting in Addu City Hulhudhoo, is currently the youngest fisherman participating in the protest. Aman, from S. Hithadhoo, Badheeyaa, has been fishing for four years now. He goes fishing on the "Roalhi" dhoni.
While Addu fishermen have been protesting near the Addu Hulhudhoo fish factory since yesterday, Aman is not backing down compared to the older fishermen and captains. He is also raising his voice regarding the issues currently faced by fishermen. This was seen during the protest this evening. He raised his voice equally with the older captains. With youthful enthusiasm, he explained the hardships he is enduring.
Speaking at the protest today, he said that because they are not receiving money, they cannot even pay their electricity bills. And as soon as the bill is unpaid, Fenaka comes and cuts off the electricity.
Referring to civil service employees who receive their salaries regularly from the government, he said that if they did not receive their salaries for a month, they would know how this feels. And then they would understand the feelings of the fishermen.
"Fenaka doesn't check if we get money. As soon as the month ends, they come and cut off the electricity. Try keeping government employees without paying them. Try keeping them without money for a day, for a month, and see what happens. What would happen? Don't you know our situation?" he said.
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Addu fishermen who spoke to Keyolhu said they hear news that the government will distribute the money to fishermen in installments on different days. However, they want arrangements made to receive the money as soon as possible or immediately. They said it has been three months since MIFCO stopped paying bills after buying fish, and the situation of them and their families has worsened beyond giving the government any more time.
Fishermen from fishing vessels belonging to various islands of Addu participated in today's protest. A fisherman informed Keyolhu that Addu fishermen who are currently out fishing and in other parts of the Maldives have also set course for Hulhudhoo to join the protest. The protest is proceeding very peacefully, and the participants say they will not stop the protest until they receive the money for the fish they weighed at MIFCO.
