Budget was not granted to reach development aims this year: President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated today the government is unable to bring about the aspired levels of development this year as this year's budget does not have fund allocations for those projects and because the government does not hold majority in the current parliament.

Speaking in Laamu atoll Isdhoo, the President said that the current budget is one passed by the previous government, and as such, does not have sufficient fund allocations necessary for the implementation of projects.

President Dr Muizzu pointed out that although his administration had been given the opportunity to propose certain inclusions to the budget, the Parliament had omitted much of his proposals before passing the budget. Highlighting the challenges this presents, the President reiterated his reasons for stating that it is crucial to get parliamentary majority for the ruling party in the upcoming parliamentary election.

"Only a very few projects of those that we wanted were included in this year's budget. Even in the case of projects that were included, a very low allocation of funds were made for them. Although we want to commence the projects in April/May, we are forced to wait until the last quarter of the year to start them," the President explained.

"Hence this year, with the budget passed by the existing parliament, we are unable to bring about the development that we wish to. Even so, we are trying to commence projects as soon as possible."

President Dr Muizzu also stated that a large number of projects had come to a halt due to lack of funds at the time he had assumed office.

He asserted that his administration is working on resuming all these projects, alongside which he 'will, without doubt, fulfill the pledges made to Isdhoo as well'.

The President asked for the people's support in the government's efforts to proceed with development projects, adding that gaining a parliamentary majority is key to achieving this.

President Dr Muizzu also revealed that some changes are being brought to the design of the Kalaidhoo-Dhanbidhoo Causeway, work on which is currently ongoing. He said that while the previous government had revised the designs and narrowed the causeway, this is not what the people wanted.

He shared that in his earlier tenure as Housing Minister he had considered ways to make the causeway wide, but the previous government had ended up changing those plans.

"I have asked the Construction Minister to explore possibilities of reverting to the previous plan, the one with people's approval, and to proceed work along that," he shared.

The President also pledged to expand tourism in Laamu Atoll within the year to a level that will see the atoll's residents' aspirations met.