Atoll development hampered by govt priority on coalition: Nasheed
President Solih is maintaining the coalition by giving state wealth to the leaders who are part of the coalition on a commercial basis, Nasheed alleged.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said on Thursday that the development of the islands has been hindered and it happened because the current government has tried to maintain more unity within the ruling coalition.
Nasheed, who is contesting against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in MDP’s presidential primary to be held on 28 January, is currently in Huvadhoo Atoll for campaigning. During his visit to GDh. Madaveli, he reiterated the government's assertion that the policies of coalition parties were given priority over those of the ruling party.
Nasheed began his speech with the party's policies. He pointed out:
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MDP has a unique vision of development for every island and every atoll
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The party's policy is to increase people's incomes so that they can lead a stable life
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This is the policy the party proposes to the people ahead of every election
"In 2018 too, MDP proposed such policies. The most important objective is that we implement policies where we will get more than today, what needs to go into our pockets, increase prosperity, allow people to live beautifully and happily without any hassles," he said.
Nasheed said he regretted that the current government has not been able to implement the party's policies. He said the government preferred coalition policies over the party's policies.
President Solih is maintaining the coalition by giving state wealth to the leaders who are part of the coalition on a commercial basis, Nasheed alleged. Stating that it was not part of "good politics", Nasheed described it as one of the biggest impediments to rural development.
"Whatever is commercially done and given to please a political leader, in return for that party to support us, we are giving away parts of our natural resources," Nasheed said.
Nasheed disapproves of Solih’s development work
Speaking on the occasion, Nasheed spoke about the government's handling of development projects. He also criticised the international airport project that was inaugurated on Wednesday night in Hanimaadhoo.
Speaking at the function held on Wednesday night, the President said that the current government is working with a certain set of rules and procedures. In this regard, he said:
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The development change in the Maldives begins with the tip of the pen
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Study carefully and get results from calculations
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Development plan will be prepared on the basis of these results
"If that doesn't happen, it's non-existent in this day and age. If you don't do that, it's like a line drawn in the sea. Sustainable development cannot happen without vision and patience," he said.
In Nasheed's speech, he recaptured president Solih's speech.
"I want to tell [President Solih's] speechwriter how to pick up the real words. Development is something we have when we can do certain things, in a certain way at a particular time. Yesterday, the President tried to arrange the above words to make sense in Hanimaadhoo," he said.
Nasheed said that despite the president's announcement of development, many projects that needed to be taken up in rural areas were not taking off. According to him, there is still a lot of things that the rural people need.
