Parliament has accepted the resolution submitted by Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina, which calls on the government to release payments to fishermen, as they face numerous hardships due to prolonged delays in receiving money for their catch.
Rozaina sent this resolution to Parliament on the fifth of this month. After concluding the preliminary debate on the resolution in today's sitting, a vote was taken on whether to accept it. Out of the 62 members present, 45 participated in the vote. While 44 members voted in favor of passing it, one member voted against accepting the resolution.
The resolution required 23 votes to pass. Having received the required number of votes, Parliament accepted the resolution today and forwarded it to the Parliamentary Economic Committee for review under Article 97(r) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure.
Speaking during the opportunity granted by the chair to conclude the preliminary debate in today's sitting, Rozaina stated that many members had expressed important thoughts and concerns during the debate. She requested that, in accordance with the submitted resolution, the committee stage investigate the reasons for the delay in paying fishermen and urge the full settlement of outstanding payments to fishermen before the month of Ramadan.
Rozaina's resolution stated that receiving the value of their labor is a right of the fishermen, and it is the government's responsibility to fulfill its promises and ensure the rights of fishermen in such an important matter tied to the country's economy and citizens' livelihoods. Furthermore, with the month of Ramadan approaching, the affairs of many Maldivian families depend on the income earned by fishermen, and families are facing hardship due to not receiving the money owed to them. Thus, the resolution called on the government to settle the outstanding payments to fishermen.
