Former President and serving Chairperson of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed has stated that the Maldives Waterfront and Marina project the government signed with UAE's Eagle Hills is sound in principle, but that the concerns lie with placing such a major project in the Male' area.
Responding to a reporter's question at a press briefing held at the MDP Offices today, Nasheed said that Eagle Hills had proposed a similar project previously as well, and that even then he had advocated for the project to be implemented outside of the Greater Male' region. Nasheed said that carrying out such a project in the Male' area would further contribute to overpopulation in the capital, while the islands become less inhabited.
A reporter asked Nasheed if he had been aware of the terms and conditions of the agreement between the government and Eagle Hills when he had chosen to praise the project so quickly.
"We should know the details [of the project agreement]. How it will be implemented, the terms and conditions. Foreign direct investment in principle and privatization in principle, and asset sales in principle, these are concepts I am in favour of," Nasheed responded.
Even following these remarks, the reporter pressed Nasheed for a clearer response. Nasheed conceded that the terms and conditions must be favourable, but added that it is not necessary to be aware of the terms and conditions in detail to state that the project is sound in principle.
"I support foreign direct investment. As I see it, this will bring greater prosperity to the Maldives and its people. Prosperity is what the people want. The people want happiness and contentment, they want to be worry-free, housing, business opportunities," Nasheed said.
The Maldives' economy can only be further advanced through bringing in foreign investments, Nasheed stated, adding that such investments should be large scale.
The reporter then asked if Nasheed endorses the project in his capacity as the leader of the main opposition party. Nasheed asserted that the MDP is a centre-right party and that it supports privatization and foreign investments.
He, however, added that he cannot unilaterally determine the party's policy. A decision on how an MDP administration would act on the project would be determined in the party's presidential election manifesto, he stated.
