Talk of Paperless Maldives Ignores Cash Shortages: Ziyad

While the government speaks of digitizing the Maldives and reducing paper usage to become "paperless," the citizens today find themselves empty-handed and "Rufiyaa-less," stated Hussain Ziyad, the Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency.

During Monday's People's Majlis sitting, while debating the Digitalization Bill, Member of Parliament Hussain Ziyad stated that despite the existence of various laws and regulations in the Maldives, numerous issues facing the public remain unresolved.

Noting that the failure to achieve results is not due to a lack of legislation, Ziyad remarked that while there is much talk of digitalizing the Maldives and transitioning to a "paperless" society, the reality today is that the Maldivian people are empty-handed and have become "Rufiyaa-less."

Citing this as an example of the government's administrative incompetence, Ziyad stated that the reimbursement for travel tickets for doctors brought to B. Eydhafushi in September last year remains unpaid. He noted that they continue to send formal correspondence to the Ministry of Finance to this day in an effort to recover those funds.

Furthermore, Ziyad noted that although the Sexual Offences Act mandates the availability of "rape evidence kits" in all healthcare facilities across the Maldives, these kits remain accessible only in Hulhumalé even after two years.

When discussing public services, we see that the travel expenses for doctors brought to Eydhafushi in September last year remain unpaid to this day. Despite constant correspondence with the Ministry of Finance, these payments are still pending. This is a matter of service delivery, and there are laws governing such requirements. For instance, the Sexual Offences Act mandates that rape evidence kits must be available at all healthcare facilities across the Maldives. However, two years later, these kits are only available in Hulhumalé, with no sign of them elsewhere.

Hussain Ziyad, Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency.

Highlighting the state of healthcare in the atolls, the member stated that while the government continues to discuss the Eydhafushi Health Centre, the facility's actual condition remains significantly substandard. He noted that, at the very least, the centre lacks the necessary arrangements to conduct even basic COVID-19 testing. Ziyad further remarked that this situation reflects the current reality of healthcare services across the entire northern region.

Ziyad stated that despite the government’s vocal rhetoric regarding national digitalization under the "Maldives 2.0" initiative, the quality of services provided to the public remains extremely poor. He further described it as a matter of concern that questioning government ministers on these issues has failed to yield any meaningful results.

MP Ziyad concluded his remarks by highlighting that the Maldivian people are currently facing widespread poverty. He stated that while there is ongoing discussion about modernizing national systems, the government must prioritize the basic needs and financial well-being of the citizens.