18 amendments recommended to budget projected for 2015

18 amendments have been suggested by the parliament to the MVR 24.3 Billion state budget projected for the year 2015.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the opposition party, proposed nine out of 18 amendments. Another nine amendments were proposed by Jumhooree Party (JP) members. Most of the amendments were proposed by Mathiveri MP Hussain Mohamed.

MDP proposed to include single mothers and people with special needs in the list of people who need allowances and not to take duty from staple food items. They have also proposed not to include income generated from staple foods and fuel in the projected budget.

JP proposed to get approval from the parliament before utilizing budget stated for a particular project for a different purpose. They also proposed to develop a pay structure based on the posts and to allocate MVR 40 million for farmers and MVR 50 million for fishermen as subsidies in the budget.

JP has decided to support the budget and the amendments, however, MDP has decided not to support to the budget.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Iboo), Hinnavaru MP and Leader of MDP Parliamentary group has said that taking import duty from staple foods were the reason they have decided not to support the budget projected by the government.