President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom has stated that crime rates had been significantly reduced from 2014 onward.

He made the statement in his Presidential Address, delivered at the start of Parliament for 2017. Speaking about the crime rates in the Maldives, President Yameen said that as per the research carried out by Maldives National University and President’s Office, crime rates had been significantly dropped from 2014 onward.

He also announced a national plan to strengthen Islamic faith, unity, civilization, spirit of Islam and nationalism, which will be announced in the coming two, three months.

President Yameen noted that the Government had carried out training programs and career guidance programs for youth, to make youth more prepared to tackle the challenges of the workplace. Out of the 94,000 jobs pledged in the Youth Manifesto publicized during the Elections, President Yameen said that over 64,000 jobs had been created in the past three years.

The Presidential Address noted that with the opening of new resorts in the country, this year will provide more job opportunities.