Saeed gives political reply to MDP MPs’ questions

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed responded in a political manner to political questions posed by MDP MPs, with him reminding them of their failures during the MDP administration.

Saeed has brought up the failures of both MDP administrations when he had attended Parliament today and during his prior attendance.

Minister Saeed attended Parliament today to answer questions previously posed by Kanditheemu MDP MP Ameen Faisal and North Galolhu MDP MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo). The first question on the agenda was Ameen's question regarding bunkering.

Saeed had answered the question during a previous sitting, and while answering the question today he stated that a lot of people had questioned whether it would succeed when tourism was initially introduced. He also stated that boat crews had expressed worry when engines were being installed in marine vessels.

"Tourism began in Maldives in 1972, with it being hard to conclude at the time whether the tourism industry would reach the point it is currently at in 2025. It can be seen from documents in the first month of engine-powered marine vessels being used, the fear fishermen had, about how fish would flee during fishing and such," said Saeed.

The minister said that worries and questions would arise when an economic service is introduced.

Afterwards, Maradhoo MDP MP Ahmed Didi asked why they were not able to achieve the objective of USD 400 million entering the country within a year of bunkering services starting. 

"Why is it that there is such a big difference in your prediction and the real figures? Is it because it was not marketed well or was the project started without enough research?", asked Ahmed Didi.

Saeed answered stating the topic of the USD 400 million was discussed in terms of the economic volume that would be generated if Maldives had taken complete geographical and "commercial advantage" in bunkering services.

"That was the frame of meaning used when discussing the topic. Various television channels have reported on it in different ways with political reasons behind them. It is not something I take issue with," said Saeed.

Saeed went on to criticize MDP MPs while answering their questions. He had stated that the MDP administrations had not done anything to increase Maldives' revenue. He also said that Maldives' debt had increased to MVR 125 billion during MDP's administration.

MP Ameen Faisal challenged Saeed by asking whether the debt had increased by any amount while Saeed was a minister during PPM's administration. Speaker Abdul Raheem intervened when Saeed did not answer the query and proceeded to talk about other matters.

Another of Saeed's political responses to MDP MPs while speaking was the MDP administration handing over Velana International Airport to India's GMR company instead of expanding and developing the airport into a more modern service.

He had accused that the MDP's first administration proceeded with their course of action because they did not believe the airport had to be expanded.

"These individuals did not believe that Hulhule needed a second runway. And that is why GMR had buried trash there at the time. When we had spoken on the matter, MDP had said for what reason does Maldives need a second runway," said Saeed.

Saeed criticized the opposition over the failure of the floating city project initiated during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s MDP administration, as well as the floating hospital project proposed under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government.

He also stated that one of the rooms from the floating city had run aground to the reef of Hulhumale'.