National Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam has stated that future administrations cannot bring significant changes to the national development plan being put together by the current administration.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office to share information on the work being done by the Ministry, Minister Aslam said the previous administration aimed to relocate people from all over the country to capital Male' area, while the current government's policy will be to bring about regional development. However, it is not feasible to change development policies every time the administration changes, said Aslam. Succeeding administrations should carry out the current administration's development plans, said Aslam.
"I do not believe that it is not beneficial for the country if we are forced to take complete U-turns every time the administration changes. Therefore, we are working such that the future administration cannot bring drastic changes to the plans", said Aslam.
Acknowledging a question asked by AVAS on how the government planned to prevent significant changes from being brought to the development plan, Minister Aslam said the plan will be implemented and underway within these five years, which would make it hard for he succeeding administration to bring drastic changes to the projects.
Aslam also stated that he supports empowering the move through a law enacted by the parliament.
"The government aims to lay the foundation to implement regional development plan before the end of the five year term, to the extent that the plan cannot be changed. If this is to be ensured through laws, it would be beneficial for the parliament to consider it", he added.
Revealing the government's regional development plan, Aslam said Maldives will be divided into five main regions and nine sub regions, in addition to five general regions. While an island will be developed as a central hub for each of the five regions, some services will be provided from other islands in the region. However, the regions and islands will be announceed later along with the national development plan, said Aslam.
Aslam further revealed that the islands in each region will be connected through a transport system being established as 'Domestic Maritime Transort System' with the assistance of UNDP. If the plan is implemented by the end of the five years, the succeeding administration would have a hard time changing the current government's plans, said the minister.
National Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam
