Asadhulla Shihab, member of Parliament for the Gemanafushi constituency, has stated that the Government is delivering on its pledges to support the country’s fishermen.

He made the remarks during an appearance on MMTV’s Bodu Khabaru programme.

Asadhulla argued that many promises made to fishermen under the previous administration had gone unfulfilled during its five-year term. He said the opposition is now raising concerns about unkept commitments, even as the current Government is actively addressing those same issues.

To illustrate this, he pointed out that around 75 per cent of the ice plants installed in Huvadhu Atoll remain unused, and said millions of rufiyaa were owed to fishermen. In contrast, he said the current Administration is working to fulfil its pledges, including plans to install State Trading Organisation (STO) fuel supply facilities in every fishing zone, ensuring fishermen have access to fuel at STO rates.

He added that fishermen had not received payments within 48 hours in the past 15 years, but noted that the current Government has now begun to meet that timeline, representing a significant improvement.

In addition to providing fuel at STO rates and ensuring timely payments, the Government has also taken steps to formalise the fishing sector through the National Fishermen’s Register. This registration enables fishermen to access a wider range of banking services, including personal loans, credit cards, housing loans and funding for construction and renovation projects, with products tailored to their income levels.