Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated last night that islands cannot be developed unless power is given back to the local councils.
During last night's MDP campaign launch at GDh. Thinadhoo for the Local Council Election, Solih had criticized PNC's government, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and government policies regarding councils.
"Members who are elected to councils are not elected to praise leaders. They are not elected so that they can be yes-men," said Solih.
"The government's pledges to Thinadhoo have not come true"
Solih said that the government's pledges to Thinadhoo have not come true and that the citizens need to deeply think whether they are things that can be achieved when leaders make such promises.
Solih also said that even though the government had pledged to connect Thinadhoo and Kaadedhdhoo via a bridge, to reclaim land to build a floating terminal along with an airport and turn Thinadhoo into the foremost city in the region, none of it has moved forward in the slightest.
"Those who make such statements, those investors came to us during our administration with proposals. We looked through to see what it was. You would know the kind of things they do, what have they done after they came to Maldives," said Solih.
"How can people who raise chickens construct an airport and build a city?"
Solih has also criticized the current government regarding the Rasmale' land reclamation project.
"After he took office, the President said that he would connect Rasmale' and Male' with a glass tunnel 200 meters deep. How can that be done? How? He talked of the sharks and other fish that can be seen when driving through the tunnel. Nothing has been done. Divers will know how the ocean is 100 meters deep," stated Solih.
Solih went on to criticize the development of 10 resorts by the government which was announced during the Presidential Address that was held on 5th February.
"You do not have to do any work, USD 400 will enter your pockets directly. If that is the case, they are talking about an investment worth USD 1 billion. They are talking about investing between USD 800 million and USD 1 billion and then raising a net profit of USD 200 million," as was said by Solih.
Solih went on to say that when resort operators were asked as to the feasibility of these numbers, they had said it cannot be done.
"Residents of Thinadhoo will not agree to have powers withheld"
Solih said that Thinadhoo is one of the richest islands in Maldives when looking 70 years back. Goods were exported out the country from Thinadhoo and even though products that were made from the island were sold with the business booming, those who were in power could not believe it at the time.
The residents of this island are once again stretched thin, with them making the best of the opportunities they got and standing on their on two feet with private work. What is the reason to not hand over the operations of such an island to its residents?Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
When Thinadhoo marine vessels had been prohibited from sailing out of Maldives with goods that had been boarded and held at Male' Harbor, the residents had protested against it at the time, and the sad, hurtful events that followed afterwards are still seared into the minds of Thinadhoo residents, said Solih.
"The residents of this island are once again stretched thin, with them making the best of the opportunities they got and standing on their own two feet with private work. What is the reason to not hand over the operations of such an island to its residents? There are citizens who can run this island on the island itself, teachers, doctors, engineers and technical individuals," stated Solih.
"How can Maldives be developed when power is consolidated? Power and ownership should be given. Laws should be created and adhered to by the current government. There is no reason that cannot be done. We are the ones who started that."
As per Solih, the MDP government had a vision for Thinadhoo, with the government having thought far into the future and started work to develop an industrial village at the island, develop a commercial port and develop a 1,000- ton cold storage.
Solih went on to say that the most recent MDP administration did everything after discussing and planning with the citizens, with the required funds having been acquired.
"However, what we are now hearing is if council members who are not a part of the government are elected, no development will take place. Some of them have even said that they will not provide funding which has been stipulated by law," as was stated by Solih.
According to Solih, if an island can be developed with councilors of the government being present, it should be made clear as to why a PNC candidate did not run for the position of the President of AA. Bodufolhudhoo Council. As no other candidate ran for the position, the seat was won by MDP.
