Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Economic Committee’s Deputy Chair Ibrahim Ameer says that the administration of President Abdullah Yameen had failed to bring anything new to the economy and had even failed to fulfill their own pledges made in the 2013 Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) manifesto.
Speaking in RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee program, Ameer said the state had failed to follow through the annual budget passed by the Parliament. The supplementary budget passed by the Parliament at the end of the year, remained one that was just on paper, he added. While the administration had failed in changing the economy, as they promised, Ameer said that most of the industries had failed.
State owned companies, such as MIFCO, he added had over the past five years failed to increase capacity to process fish stocks.
‘We saw MIFCO go bankrupt, go under STO management. Fishermen cannot get ice. Boats can rake in 10, 15 tons of fish, MIFCO is only accepting five tons. This is a grave injustice,’ he said.
He also reflected on this Government’s agricultural policy, especially noting the administration’s flagship promise of MVR 8,000 for every farmer. Ameer further said the administration had also failed to carve out a percentage of share of tourist island to the employees.
Ameer estimated that the administration had actually achieved less than 10 percent of what was pledged in the 2013 manifesto.
He further noted that the bridge between Male’ and Hulhumale’ was being built by this administration with a US$ 200 million mark up, to what was projected under the MDP administration.
Ameer also shot down the claims of creating 94,000 jobs. If 94,000 jobs were created under this five-year term, then it should reflect in the lives of public.
The biggest revolutionary change to the nation’s economy was the introduction of local tourism, under MDP administration, Ameer noted. The model, he said, had brought in beneficial changes to islands such as Maafushi, Thulusdhoo, Rasdhoo and other similar islands, enriching the lives of many.
Ameer also warned that with 70 percent of national debt to China, there would be a time when Chinese influence crept into the nation.
