Unity government will slash petrol and diesel duty: Solih

A unity government will slash the duty currently being taken from petrol and diesel, says opposition coalition’s Presidential hopeful, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking to residents of Guraidhoo in Kaafu atoll after inaugurating the opposition coalition’s campaign site in the island on Thursday evening, Solih said that businesses and guest houses in islands face hindrances due to the hike in electricity bills at their facilities. However, Solih pledged to slash the costs for electricity in facilities such as guest houses and businesses operated in outlying atolls.

Opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visits Guraidhoo on Thursday evening

Highlighting that there are ways in which electricity costs can be slashed, Solih said that one of them, is to generate electricity through solar panels and the other way is by slashing the duties for petrol and diesel. Stressing that the current administration has begun taking duty for various other services, Solih said that President Yameen’s government has not revealed the changes that are coming to oil prices across the globe.

The opposition candidate, having stated his decision to slash petrol and diesel duty during his tenure, added that this will bring a good change to traders.

Also pledging to provide housing units for the residents of Guraidhoo island, Solih said that the lack of land availability is a major concern for its citizens. Solih further pledged to provide a solution for the efficient use of the island’s harbor.

Moreover, the opposition candidate also stressed on the manner in which employees of state institutions are being sacked from their posts due to differences in their political beliefs. Solih asserted that a difference in political beliefs is not to be perceived as an issue and that political beliefs should not be considered when promoting employees.

While the opposition coalition had decided to field a common candidate for the Presidential Election of September, they had chosen main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as candidate and MP for Kaashidhoo constituency Faisal Naseem as his running mate.

Solih had concluded a one-day trip to three islands of Kaafu atoll on Thursday evening, having opened campaign sites in Gulhi, Maafushi and Guraidhoo islands as well as pledged to bring solutions the islands residents face, during his five-year tenure.