“Government has taken a lot of efforts in the last one and a half years, to minimise its expenses” - President Waheed

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that in the last one and a half years, the government has done immense work in minimising its expenses. The President made this remark while speaking at the official inauguration of the Laamu Kunahandhoo Harbour Project today.

Noting that there was still a lot to be done in this endeavour, the President said that it would become much easier once the parliament passes the revenue bills. Pointing out that the parliament has rejected the government’s bill on increasing service charge collected from foreign passengers on departure, the President said that the government pursues every opportunity to increase the government’s revenue, in order to ensure a better life for the people.

In his speech, the President underlined the great amount of debt the country was in, at the time of his assumption of office. However, the President spoke of the efforts taken by the government in the last one and a half years, to pay off most of that debt.

At the ceremony, the President said that despite a harbour being essential for every island, the construction of a harbour in each island was not possible yet, owing to the fiscal state of the country. The President appealed to carry out the harbour project giving high consideration for the people’s opinion, efficient surveying and in a way that was not environmentally damaging to the island.

In his speech, President Waheed highlighted that additional developmental projects were needed in the island of Kunahandhoo. He further spoke of the different environmental issues the Maldives was facing due to climate change.