Congestion in Male

Presidential candidate of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former president Mohamed Nasheed has said that a solution must be sought to the problem of congestion in Male’, to ensure development in Male’ and the atolls.

Nasheed made this remark while speaking at an MDP rally held at Kaaminee Magu last night.

He said that an MDP government would continue with the implementation of the Veshifahi Male’ program.

Nasheed estimated the cost of this project to be at around $800 million, and said that given the size of this project, MDP would implement it through a public partnership.

Nasheed said that tourism is the most successful business in the Maldives, and that every island in the Maldives has the capacity to hold 200 tourist beds.

He assured that the airport will be developed to accommodate 5 million tourists per year, instead of the current 1 million.

Nasheed said that when he assumed office as president in 2008, efforts had been ongoing to consolidate a tax system for 20 years.

He said that the previous MDP government established a tax system in spite of serious pressure from businessmen, and that an MDP government would overcome such difficulties in the future as well.