President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has returned to Male' after a five-day tour of four southern atolls with a large fishing population, without meeting the fishermen.
During this trip, he visited fourteen islands in the four southernmost atolls of the Maldives. These four atolls have a relatively high number of fishing vessels, captains, and fishermen. Notably, there are two factories where fishermen weigh their catch in Addu City and GA. Kooddoo.
Coincidentally, the President's trip coincided with the days when fishermen were protesting over unpaid dues for the fish they sold to the government. Therefore, the fishermen hoped that the President would meet with them in at least one of the atolls. However, he concluded the trip without meeting them. The fishermen were not mentioned in the consultative meetings held with atoll councils, island councils, and women's development committees either. The fishermen were only discussed during the meeting held with the residents of Thinadhoo. That too was with a personal agenda. This was because the fishermen in GA. Kooddoo were protesting and had halted Kooddoo's operations, making it difficult for him to visit GA. He stated that he was ready to go for discussions with the fishermen. However, he did not dare to visit the fishermen.
President calls on fishermen to end protest and come for discussions
Because he did not want to meet the fishermen in Kooddoo, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam and MIFCO CEO Ahmed Shamah Rasheed were sent to Kooddoo to pave the way for the GA atoll trip and try to appease the fishermen. Although the Minister and CEO visited Kooddoo claiming to be with the fishermen, they did not fulfill any of the fishermen's demands. The Minister returned to Male' after promising to pay the money in installments. The CEO fled from the fishermen and returned to Male'. Fishermen say this was all an attempt to deceive them. Before visiting Villingili, where there are many fishermen, they started processing seventy million rufiyaa from the money owed to the fishermen. Fishermen describe this as dust thrown in their eyes because the President did not want to meet them.
Why didn't he dare to go to Kooddoo to meet the fishermen @MMuizzu ?
Surely it can be said that he is not a President with guts
@dhonamaa_com https://t.co/CxWEHpSFWy
— 𝑨𝒍𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒋𝒊𝒅 (@AliSajidMV) February 22, 2024
The fishermen are not happy at all about the President's trip. The fishermen said it only brought them more disappointment.
"Every leader will say fishing is the lifeblood of the nation. That fishermen bring dollars into the country. But we don't see any respect for fishermen. At the very least, when he traveled to fourteen islands, he didn't dare to meet us. I will say it boldly. He didn't meet us simply because he has no guts," a fisherman said.
Some fishermen said the President was on a campaign trip. They said his promise to travel to the islands before the parliamentary elections was a direct plan to campaign using taxpayers' money. The fishermen said they do not understand any reason to travel at this time, spending a large amount from the state treasury, without paying the fishermen.
"The trip is a mockery of us. We and our wives and children are also Maldivian citizens. While we are starving, he took money from the state treasury and traveled with a large entourage. How much would that cost? Until March 5th comes, they should also wait without eating, drinking, or taking a salary. Then they will feel the situation we are in. Cut off their electricity once, cut off their water, cut off their net to see what happens," a fisherman said.
These are the sentiments of many fishermen. The fishermen said the President concluded his trip and returned to Male' without meeting them out of fear. And the fishermen said it was because he had no new stories to tell since the promises made to the fishermen during the campaign had not been fulfilled.
"During the campaign, he said we would be paid within 48 hours for the fish we weigh. We were very happy. But now he says the government has no money. That he will find a way and fulfill this promise early in the term. What he says makes no sense, right? He just said whatever to get votes. When those promises couldn't be fulfilled, he just didn't dare to meet us. Just no guts," a fisherman said.
After concluding his trip, the President returned to Male' last night.
