The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has failed to retrieve over MVR 50 million owed to the State.

This was revealed in the ministry’s audit report for 2017.

According to the report, the ministry has failed to retrieve the fees and fines owed to the State for the ice plant constructed in Lh. Felivaru, which has reached MVR 7,847,131 on 31 December 2016. And that the ministry’s failure has caused the amount to balloon to MVR 10,831,380 on 31 December 2017.

Also, while the ice plant constructed in GDh. Thinadhoo has been paying their fees in a timely manner, they were fined MVR 19,911 for failing to pay the fees on time in the third quarter of 2016. However, the ministry failed to obtain the fined amount in 2016 or in 2017.

It was also noted in the report that the ice plant in Th. Guraidhoo was fined MVR 8,173,817 up until 2016 and that the ministry has failed to retrieve that amount as well.

In an effort to develop the fishing industry, the government from 1997 to 2001 leased boats and boat engines on long-term installments. According to the agreements, the payments are to be made according to the instructions given by the finance ministry or fisheries ministry. However, up until 2017, the lease payments and fines of 36 boats totaling MVR 22,572,131 and the engine leases and fines for 19 fishing boats totaling MVR 10,024,777 have gone unpaid.

The ministry failed to take any action on those who have not been making payments on time, the audit report stated, adding that even though the ministry had sent notifications to 16 individuals in 2017, it had failed to take action after the deadline explained. This issue had also been noted in the 2016 audit report, the 2017 audit report stated.