Nasheed calls for suspension of infrastructure projects until dollar falls
Nasheed made the appeal in a post on social media on Saturday, as the market exchange rate for the US dollar recently rose to MVR 21.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on the government to suspend all state infrastructure projects until the value of the US dollar declines.
Nasheed made the appeal in a post on social media on Saturday, as the market exchange rate for the US dollar recently rose to MVR 21.
He said the government should limit spending to essential public services until the exchange rate improves.
Nasheed also proposed transferring responsibility for unfinished development projects to island councils.
"All infrastructure works must be suspended. It would be best to hand over the incomplete projects in the islands to the respective island councils. The councils can then complete those works by settling the costs through a cross-subsidy mechanism," he wrote.
Nasheed, who also serves as chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said this approach would allow development work to continue while reducing the financial burden on the central government.
