Vice President: Fast-tracked development ahead for next 3 years

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef (Sembe) has pledged that the next three years will be marked by rapid development, driven by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s vision for national progress.

Speaking in an interview with Public Service Media (PSM) on Monday, the Vice President said he was fully aware of the country’s situation when he assumed office. He recalled that in the early months of the administration, the opposition held a majority in Parliament and imposed financial restrictions on several development projects. He also accused the opposition of attempting to topple a legally elected government through parliamentary maneuvers.

Despite these challenges, Latheef said President Muizzu had navigated the obstacles with strategic sharpness, and that the coming years would see the launch of numerous national-scale development initiatives.

“The President does not shy away from difficult decisions if they benefit the people,” Latheef said, adding that such efforts require advance planning and empowering institutions with the necessary legal authority. He claimed that signs of good governance are already emerging.

The Vice President highlighted key priorities in the President’s agenda, including accelerating work at Velana International Airport, expanding domestic flight connectivity, and strengthening the national transport network. He said the President’s overarching goal is to increase prosperity across multiple sectors.

Latheef also expressed confidence that the government would continue to earn public trust and work tirelessly to uphold basic rights, boost income, and ensure economic and social stability.

However, concerns persist.  

While the Vice President promised fast-paced development, critics have pointed to delays in project implementation over the past year. As a result, both capital expenditure and Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) spending have declined.

To reduce costs, the government has awarded a large number of projects to state-owned enterprises. This has triggered complaints that SOEs are overstretched and that private contractors are being sidelined. On June 6, the government awarded 206 projects to private companies in a single batch, but the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a lawsuit alleging that the contracts were awarded without proper bidding or assessment of technical and financial capacity.

Adding to the scrutiny, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has questioned whether the government will be able to repay the USD 1.1 billion debt due next year.