Addu saw development during the past 50 years when Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was in power, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said.
Speaking at a campaign event for MDP candidates running for Addu constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Solih said the people of Addu has always voted for MDP.
That is because MDP is the only party that looked at Addu with development in mind, he added.
“Addu City has been developed in these past five years, even in the past 50 years only when MDP was in the government, and especially in these past five years you will notice that,” Solih said.
Looking back on history, Solih said the people of Addu have always lived a prosperous life without relying on Male'.
However, due to changes in government policies in the 1970s, the entire Addu was on the verge of lifelessness, he said, accusing the government at the time of doing it for political reasons.
The new constitution that came into effect in 2008 gave hope for the people of Addu and the MDP government began work to make the hope a reality, the MDP's advisor claimed.
But when the government was overthrown in 2012, the people of Addu were left in despair, he said, adding that a low of work was done for Addu's development during his government from 2018 to 2023.
“When you see the work we have started, to build roads, develop the airport, reclaim land for resorts, reclaim the land needed for the island, build ports and expand MIFCO's cold storages, you will see that we have worked for positive changes,” he said.
Highlighting the work done by the MDP government, Solih said USD 77 million for road construction and USD 26 million for airport development had been allocated from the Exim Bank.
In addition, USD 85 million was spent on the development of the resort and MVR 68 million was budgeted for the development of MIFCO's cold storage facility, he said.
