President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said previous governments launched projects on whims without planning.
Meeting with Addu City supporters on Saturday in his MDP primary campaign, President Solih said previous governments launched projects suddenly without any planning, due to which years were spent without any real progress.
President Solih said the first MDP government in 2008 made a big mess of transport systems in Addu City and other atolls. He said the government has not been able to climb out of the "mess" even to this day.
"[He] tried to start the transport system. Everyone with a sailing boat was getting an uninhabited island. They were being given away. It was a huge mess, and we are still not able to free ourselves of that mess. [Companies are demanding huge sums of money, in millions, because of the move. Some are demanding MVR 250 million, others, even higher amounts. How can we do this?," the president asked.
President Solih's comments regarding the previous governments' sudden projects come while Parliament Speaker and MDP's President, Mohamed Nasheed, who is contesting against President Solih in the MDP primary, has said President Solih's projects lacked planning.
President Solih said the Maldives was affected by the 2008 economic downturn. The people should think about how the government acted then and how it acted in the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Back then, the salaries of civil servants were reduced, as well as the number of staff," he noted.
The President pointed out that many people were in financial distress due to the low income at the time.
"I believe it is the responsibility of a government to provide as much assistance as possible to the people in such circumstances. That is what we have done in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
The President said the Maldives still faces economic challenges. A government that acts like the 2008 government will not be able to overcome them.
President Solih and Nasheed will face off against each other in the MDP primary scheduled for January 28.
