MIFCO Issues Fuel to Vessels to Settle Its Own Debt, Say Skippers

The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) issues fuel to fishing vessels to settle the debt the company owes to fishermen, skippers have said.

Expressing concern over MIFCO's claims that it issues fuel on credit to encourage fishermen, skippers stated that MIFCO does not issue fuel on credit, but rather provides fuel in lieu of the unpaid money for the fish purchased from the vessels.

"Reading the news, it seems like MIFCO is sacrificing for the fishermen. They are speaking with complete deception. They are not giving fuel on credit to fishermen. They only give fuel if MIFCO has a backlog [of unpaid dues]. That is a big deception. If there is money owed to the vessel, they give fuel up to that amount to settle their debt. They won't give more than that. Then, when they pay us, they deduct this amount. They are doing things in a way that benefits them in every way," a skipper said.

Skippers said MIFCO would only be considered as giving fuel on credit if there was a system or arrangement where a vessel could get fuel on credit every time they went to get it. Otherwise, it cannot be considered as issuing fuel on credit.

"Now they are issuing fuel for their own purposes, under a specific agenda. We do not accept that at all. When we run out of options and are in a desperate state, we have no other choice. We have to beg and fall at their feet. Both MIFCO and the government want to keep fishermen in this state. Otherwise, they should just give it on credit as much as we want every time we go. They take fish from us on credit, and MIFCO gives a little money whenever they feel like it," a skipper said.

Skippers said MIFCO spreads news about everything in a way that distorts the truth. Because of this, the public's trust in fishermen has been lost, and the way people view fishermen has completely changed. Skippers particularly noted that relevant government officials speak on various political platforms in a tone that makes the public believe the government is handing the entire state treasury over to the fishermen.

"Now and then MIFCO says they have released millions to fishermen. The Minister gets on the PNC podium and says this government has given billions to fishermen so far. The President gets up and says there will be no backlog for fishermen now. These are all just deceptions. The government is not depositing money into our accounts while we are sleeping at home. They are paying for the fish they bought from us. How big of a deception is this? They really need to explain clearly to the public what is going on," a skipper said.

The skippers requested MIFCO to arrange a proper system to issue both fuel and ice on credit, increase the purchasing price of fish, and arrange a way to quickly pay for the fish bought from fishermen. They also requested the government, the Fisheries Minister, and MIFCO to spread accurate information without deception when broadcasting news related to fishermen.