"Negligent" ex-govt lost foreign funded projects, alleges Pres
The Kuwait Fund had also provided free assistance to carry out the projects, the President said.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
President Mohammed Muizzu has accused the previous government of negligence in causing the loss of some projects under free aid.
Muizzu said this while addressing the people in the northern provinces of the country. He was speaking about the hospital announced by the previous government to be built in Hanimaadhoo.
The President said that the government has signed projects to develop a 30-bed hospital in four islands, including Hanimaadhoo Hospital and three other islands.
The Kuwait Fund had also provided free aid to carry out the projects, the President said.
“However, the previous government did not use the fund and delayed the implementation of these projects and the Kuwait Fund finally pulled the funding,” he said.
Noting that such institutions have special rules for allocating funds for projects, President Muizzu said the government must complete certain procedures to obtain the money.
"I can say that they did not do what was required and neglected it. They delayed it and finally Kuwait withdrew the fund. When they took it back, we lost the projects for the other three islands," he said.
"Isn’t this the extent to which things can go wrong in a government? Then the people had made their decision and that's what happened in the presidential election."
The President assured that a good quality hospital would be built in Hanimaadhoo by finding another way in this government. He said he would ensure the hospital would continue to expand health services until the work is completed.
The previous government has twice opened tenders for the construction of 30-bed hospitals in seven islands with the assistance of the Kuwait Fund. Thus:
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The first tender for the construction of these hospitals was opened in April 2021; the Finance Ministry rejected the bids on the grounds that the prices were too high
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The bids were higher than the engineers' estimates and all the hospitals had no choice but to reopen the bids
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Then, in March 2023, former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said the delay in awarding the hospitals was due to the lack of "no objection" notice from the Kuwait Fund
Although the proposed budget for 2023 budgets for all these hospitals, there are huge differences in the amounts to be spent on the project. MVR 71.1 million has been budgeted for three island hospitals while MVR 2.5 million has been budgeted for the remaining islands.
The islands where the hospital was to be built:
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H.Dh. Hanimaadhoo (MVR. 2.5 million)
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Sh. Milandhoo (MVR. 71.1 million)
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N. Velidhoo (MVR. 2.5 million)
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K. Thulusdhoo (MVR. 2.5 million)
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A.Dh. Maamigili (MVR. 2.5 million)
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V. Felidhoo (MVR. 71.1 million)
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Th. Vilufushi (MVR. 71.1 million)
In his speech, President Muizzu also criticized the previous government for the mistakes made in obtaining funds for the projects. Thus he said:
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The scale of the development planned by the previous government was too small, he said, adding that this government would extend the runway and develop the airport further
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He assured that the government will continue the project at a faster pace than the previous government
Hanimaadhoo is, in the northernmost zone of the country, which this government has decided to develop as an economic hub. The President said:
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Population and development can be balanced in the island; the island will provide the necessary services
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It will establish economic prosperity
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Tourism will be expanded in the region, including various types of tourism
