Former President Nasheed apologises to the people of Thulusdhoo

Presidential Candidate of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former President Mohamed Nasheed has apologised to the people of Thulusdhoo for the attempt by the MDP government to change the capital of Kaafu Atoll from Thulusdhoo to Maafushi.

While addressing the people of Thulusdhoo last night, Nasheed said that the attempt by his government to change the capital of Kaafu Atoll from Thulusdhoo to Maafushi was not an effort to cause detriment to the people of Thulusdhoo, but it nonetheless resulted in hostility between the people of Thulusdhoo and the MDP government.

Nasheed said that his government made these efforts because MDP did not believe that atoll capitals were necessary in the process of decentralisation of the administrative divisions.

He said that the MDP government wanted to introduce provinces to replace the atoll capital system. Nasheed said that nonetheless, he was now aware that the people of the Maldives do not want this change, and that MDP has thus given up the idea of creating provinces.

“Back then, MDP tried to run the country through creating provinces rather than the atoll capital system. In a decentralised system, we don’t believe that it’s important to centralise the powers of an atoll. MDP’s idea is to run the country through creating provinces. It was included in the party’s manifesto. We started implementing this, but changed our attitude as soon as we realised that the people did not want this system. In our new manifesto, we prioritise atolls instead of provinces. I know now that this is what the people want,” he said.

Nasheed said that an MDP government would prioritise development projects for Thulusdhoo, and that MDP would support any efforts by the government or the Parliament Member for Thulusdhoo, that would benefit the people of Thulusdhoo.