Former President Nasheed to receive Mission Blue Award

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has departed to the United States to receive the Sylvia Earle Mission Blue Award 2014.

The Mission Blue Award honours leaders who work for the protection of the environment and marine life.

Speaking to the press prior to his departure today, Nasheed said that Maldives, being an island nation, should make efforts to protect reefs from the adverse effects of climate change.

He referred to the projected state budget for 2014, and said that the budget was proposed ‘outside the boundaries of the law’, and that President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was not fulfilling his responsibilities as the country’s president.

He also criticised the recent increase of the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) to 12 percent, and said that the government should know that increasing taxes would not necessarily increase government income.

Nasheed will receive the Mission Blue Award at a ceremony in Florida on Thursday.