Ex-gov't neglected chance of presenting credentials to over 20 ambassadors: Shahid

It had been years since over 20 foreign ambassadors to Maldives had been neglected the chance to present their credentials to the Maldivian president, when the new administration was inaugurated in November 2018, says Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s morning talk show, “Fashaairu”, FM Shahid stated that the opposition is spreading “concerns” of his official trips abroad being “expensive” because they are threatened by the fast-growing success of the current government.

Further, he highlighted that the government is not even close to exceeding the MVR 27 million spent by the previous administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.

Highlighting that the positive results of the government’s hard work had begun surfacing four months into its inauguration, FM Shahid stated that relations with several countries have flourished through participation in different forums and events, since the new government took over.

He also noted that the current administration had received grant assistance of MVR two billion within three months since inauguration, MVR 0.5 billion more than what Yameen’s government received – MVR 1.5 billion.

Stressing that Maldives was cast out and abandoned due to the previous administration’s misuse of the country’s foreign policy when the new administration took over, FM Shahid stated that there is much needed to be carried out to strengthen foreign ties.

As such, within the past 10 months, Maldives has managed to make its voice heard once again, and gain back the respect it deserves.

Responding to opposition’s claims that the government’s work is slow, Shahid asserted his belief that the ministry’s work is “not slow” and that the decision will only be reached after looking to analysis of the government’s work.

He went on to add that the current government has carried out more development projects than the previous administration, within the first year.

While Yameen’s government was able to contract and carry out 70 development projects within its first year, the current government has carried out 147 so far, said Shahid.

The minister went on to highlight that the previous government, as well as Yameen’s predecessor Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik governed without planning things through, which is “very clear”.