Fishermen's families have stated that despite Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam's assurances that their concerns would be addressed and issues resolved following protests over unpaid dues, the reality is quite different.
When the Minister met with the fishermen, their biggest complaints were being in debt to corner shops, unable to pay bank loans, and facing water and electricity disconnections. At the time, the Minister stated that no fisherman's family would face water or electricity disconnections. However, today, water is being disconnected.
"Didn't the Minister lie? They came to cut the water at this house. Surely, if the water supply company had been informed, this wouldn't have happened. Should we call the Minister when they come to cut the water? He won't even answer the phone," a fisherman said.
While there are around 17,000 fishermen in the Maldives, their families also live in Male'. Renting places at high prices, they have been unable to pay rent month-to-month since this government came to power. In some cases, landlords have given notice and evicted them due to debt. While fishermen's families are ending up on the streets, the government pays no attention to this. It's not just rent. Unable to pay electricity and water bills, fishermen's families are being deprived of their rights. Yet, this government claims it will not commit any act that deprives citizens of their rights.
A woman from a fisherman's family living in Male' said today that when MWSC came to cut off the water, she called MWSC directly and told them she was a fisherman's child. She asked them to hold off until Monday, as the government had promised to pay the money by then. However, the company replied that this was not their policy.
"When they came to cut the water from this house, I told them my father's and my name and pleaded with them. They said there was nothing they could do. I even recorded the call. That's because they might lie later. Actually, we shouldn't be the ones pleading, right? The government should inform them that we are unable to pay because they haven't paid us, and to hold the fishermen's household bills. Then we have to take loans from friends to pay the bills. By the time we get the money, we are buried in debt," a member of a fisherman's family said.
With the month coming to an end, fishermen are unable to resolve bill issues and meet other basic living needs. There is no way to pay for food, rent, children's college fees, and school fees. Fishermen are now raising their voices over the bill issues.
Today, @MWSC_Official employees have come to cut off water from the houses of fishermen's families! On the day our Minister @Shiyamaldives met with us, the Minister said that no fisherman's family would face water or electricity disconnections, and bank loans... https://t.co/BLtAQtfezD
— 𝑨𝒍𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒋𝒊𝒅 (@AliSajidMV) February 24, 2024
Fishermen are now in deep despair. The government is launching major projects and the President is traveling to the atolls using state funds. Fishermen say that doing these things without paying them is a way of harassing them. This government came to power with massive support from fishermen. But the way President Muizzu is now abandoning and treating fishermen has caused them to withdraw their support.
The fishermen's request is to hold their water and electricity bills until they are paid. And for the government to inform the utility companies of this. Doing this until the end of March is something the fishermen are pleading for.
