Akram calls out Minister Ameen for lying about RTL ferry timeline set by former administration

Former State Minister Akram Kamaludeen has dismissed recent claims by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen, who stated that the previous administration under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had set a 2027 deadline for completing the RTL ferry project. Akram asserts that the target was always 2024, accusing Ameen of misrepresenting the facts to downplay the progress made by the former government.

In response to Minister Ameen's remarks, Akram took to social media platform ‘X’ on Monday evening, accusing the minister of deliberately making false statements.

Highlighting that the RTL ferry system was launched under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration in June 2022, Akram stated that the initiative aimed to connect the entire Maldives with high-speed ferry services by the end of 2024, a timeline set well before the current administration took office. Akram stressed that the project was not an initiative of the incumbent administration of President Muizzu.

Criticizing the current administration, Akram called the attempts made by Ameen to mislead the public irresponsible and selfish, calling him out for attempting to take credit for major projects initiated by the former administration. Further, he accused the current administration of repeatedly spreading falsehoods about such initiatives.

Akram stressed that spreading misinformation at such a level is “embarrassing and dangerous”.

The former state minister went on to claim that the current administration has failed to meet the project’s goals due to its inability to secure the necessary funding for acquiring additional ferry launches. He alleged that the administration’s subsequent request for assistance from India stemmed from this shortfall in resources.

The current administration on Sunday announced that the government of India has pledges MVR 100 million to support the expansion of the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry system, an initiative launched under the former administration to connect the entire archipelago via a high-speed ferry network.

Speaking at the event, Minister Ameen announced that the government will move quickly to establish a high-speed ferry network connecting 81 islands across nine atolls. He added that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed that day would not only bolster the RTL services but also further strengthen bilateral ties between the Maldives and India.

At Sunday’s ceremony, 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed. It was announced that MVR 100 million will be allocated in financial assistance for the construction of RTL ferries, with the government of India supporting 13 projects aimed at advancing the RTL ferry system.