Fisheries Minister Fails to Attend Parliament Today

Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam was scheduled to attend today's parliament sitting but was removed from the agenda as he was unable to attend.

A parliament member who shared information with Keyolha stated that the parliament's administration had informed them that the minister's attendance would be rescheduled to another day as he could not attend today's sitting.

The minister was scheduled to attend today's sitting to answer a question submitted by the MDP member for Kendhoo constituency, Mauroof Zakir, regarding the efforts being made to provide a sustainable income from various types of fishing.

In the question submitted to the minister, Member Mauroof Zakir asked what efforts are being made to provide a sustainable income for those whose entire livelihood depends on fishing, such as those who cook, dry, and sell skipjack tuna, frigate tuna, and little tuna as dried fish, as well as reef fishermen and those engaged in other types of fishing. Furthermore, the member asked to clarify why there is discrimination among fishermen in various sectors of the fishing industry, with some not receiving fuel subsidies.

The Fisheries Minister was last summoned to parliament after being placed on the agenda three times. Even then, he excused himself from attending parliament every time he was scheduled. That occurred during a period when fishermen were not being paid. After repeated postponements, the minister attended parliament only after setting a date to release payments to fishermen. Today, the minister was scheduled to attend parliament at a time when, coincidentally, fishermen are expressing dissatisfaction over unpaid dues. It is believed that the minister was unable to attend parliament today because, if a member were to ask a question about the payments during the opportunity given to question the minister, he would not know exactly what day to announce for the payments, or because the government has not yet set a specific date to disburse the funds.