President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom vowed Sunday that he would continue to bring about the development desired by the people for the Maldives, even in the face of increasing national debt.
He made the remark during the inauguration of Thulusdhoo Island's new harbour, during his one-day official trip to three islands of capital Kaafu Atoll.
In his address, Yameen proclaimed that over the past four years, his administration had brought about the progress that his predecessors had failed to provide.
"[The opposition now says that] President Yameen doing all this would leave such an enormous debt on the next regime. This is the limit of their thinking, their ideology. But would you, the people of Thulusdhoo, accept [the decision] to abandon building your harbour just because it couldn't be done without spending MVR 40 million from the state budget?" he asked.
Yameen stated that the people wished to find alternatives to ensure development should the state budget fail to do so.
"We need to obtain funds, bring in income to accomplish things. We must obtain them in whichever way possible to complete these [projects]."
The president went on to say that the opposition has more or less admitted that they did not have any conceived ideas on repaying the debt of the Maldives.
"But my thinking is to increase that debt, to bring the development the people want," he declared.
Making a further dig at the opposition parties, he added that his government had not "taken to the streets and protested" to bring progress to Maldives over the past four years.
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