President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said in Thaa Guraidhoo today that he acknowledges the debt situation facing the country, pledging not to launch unrealistic development projects on islands ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Speaking during a visit to Guraidhoo, the island where he won the largest majority of votes in the presidential election, the President said he did not want to mislead the public about the economic situation his administration “inherited” due to the actions of the previous government.
“The next two months will be the most difficult, as it happened, this is the most critical time. It will become much easier after July. But we’re starting now to do the work necessary to earn income,” President Muizzu said.
In addition to high government debt, the debt of state-owned enterprises was also high, he said. True development for the public cannot be brought without sorting out all such problems, he said.
“I am trying sincerely to bring sustainable development in its true meaning. It won’t be something that produces results if I set down foundation stones in the common manner of the past without considering the reality because there is an election ahead,” he said.
The President assured that he would visit islands across the atolls. One purpose of the visits would be to share the economic situation with the public and to plan projects needed by islands, he said.
While each island needed 10 to 12 projects, several projects started by the previous government remain stalled. The President urged the public to rank the projects that were needed the most.
“I want as well, and you the people would definitely want, to start everything at once. However, we need to put them in order, considering the state of the economy. We have to put things in order,” the President said.
Despite the economic situation, the government will continue work that was possible to achieve the development needed by islands, he said. The President’s trip to Thaa Guraidhoo was undertaken a month before the parliamentary elections.
