Politically motivated expenses have resulted in alarmingly high levels of State expenditures: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that politically motivated expenses made by the State for the sake of temporary gains, have resulted in alarmingly high levels of State expenditures.

The President made this statement at the first Independence Day celebration ceremony during his presidency, held at the Republic Square last night.

He stressed the importance of increasing income and reducing expenditures, and called upon the Maldivian people for their cooperation in these efforts.

“We have to make changes to the tax system. The subsidies provided by the State for the benefit of Maldivian citizens, end up also benefitting foreign nationals and tourists. The government income from these areas should be higher than what it is today,” he said.

He noted that the country was at a dangerous crossroad when he became President on 7 February 2012; however, the constitution of a unity government inclusive of different political ideologies has resulted in reasonable improvements in the country’s situation over the past five months.

“We are caught up in a political storm, hoping for a calm destination where people’s fundamental needs are better fulfilled,” the President said.