Need to hand development power to the people: Solih

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) stated today that the power to develop Maldives should be left in the hands of the citizens and that is how development can be brought about to the islands.

At the MDP campaign meeting held at Sh. Foakaidhoo, Solih said that the current government has abolished Atoll Councils, along with reducing the number of councilors and the power the councils are to hold.

Solih said that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu made no mention on how to improve the decentralization system during the Presidential Address on Thursday.

As per Solih, it is important MDP candidates who know these policies are elected to the councils. He also said that those who understand the policies need to be elected into the government and that PNC have no relation to the decentralization system.

"In all honesty, PNC has no relation to the system. They do not understand the system. We can currently see the changes that will occur in these islands if PNC candidates are elected," said Solih.

According to Solih, the only thing that will be done by PNC councilors who are elected are the things that are told of them, but when MDP took office in 2018, they had worked to develop every corner of Maldives.

Solih stated that Maldives cannot be developed without the islands being developed as well and that the power of development in Maldives needs to be left in the hands of the people.

Solih went on to say that the previous government had worked to turn islands into places where people can comfortably live, improving forecasting, water, sewage and electricity systems, strengthening the health system, developing schools and connecting islands through transport systems.

Solih continued by saying that there are companies who hire people in excess. As an example, Solih said that a Laamu Atoll island with a population less than 300 has 60 people who are employed. Due to that, Solih said that two fishing vessels had stopped fishing and had facilitated a path to "easy revenue".

While President Muizzu had stated that all Maldivian citizens will receive an yearly sum of USD 400 from 2030 after the government develops 10 resorts during the Presidential Address, Solih had questioned the believability of such a statement.

"If every person is to receive USD 400 directly into their pockets every year, a net profit of around USD 200 million needs to be obtained. In order for an investment to generate USD 200 million, an investment of USD 800 million to USD 1 billion needs to be made."

Solih said that the Presidential Address did not cover anything regarding practical enforcement.