A delegation, including a deputy minister from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, was forced out of Dhaandhoo Island in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll on Thursday after local fishermen staged a protest over unpaid dues.
A fisherman from Dhaandhoo, speaking to local media, said the government had failed to pay hundreds of thousands of Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) owed to the island’s fishermen. He stated that no delegation from the ministry would be allowed to enter the island until the payments were made.
The fishermen claim that despite a government promise to release the payments within two weeks, the money has not been disbursed for over two months. They added that the delayed payments have left many of them in debt.
The delegation had travelled to Dhaandhoo to brief the community on a government project to install saltwater cooling systems in fishing vessels, according to reports. However, they were met with resistance from fishermen who demanded immediate action on the payment issue.
The ongoing payment delays have fuelled dissatisfaction, with fishermen calling on the authorities to resolve the matter swiftly.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has yet to comment on the incident.
