Yameen, Dr. Jameel tours the atolls ‘to hold the government more accountable’

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and his former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has embarked on a tour of Maldivian islands which they say is designed to hold the current administration more accountable.

The tour marks the embattled former President’s first trip out of the capital, Male’ City, since his election defeat to current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018.

Speaking to press at the No. 1 Jetty before embarking on his tour this Thursday, Yameen said recent events had made it apparent that the only opposition political party which had the power to hold the current administration accountable was Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Yameen, who serves as leader of PPM, said that the main objective of his tour of the atolls was to hold the current administration accountable for its actions.

“This is work to hold the administration accountable. This tour, In Sha Allah, is a tour to strengthen the party and win as many seats as possible in the upcoming local council elections,” said Yameen, adding that the tour was “more to hold the current administration accountable than [to win] the local council elections.”

Yameen said his first destination is the islands in A. Dh. Atoll, and will head to islands in another atoll next week.

“We are at present, headed to A. Dh. Mahibadhoo, Kunburudhoo and Dhangethi. In Sha Allah, I will return and then head to other atolls next week,” said Yameen.

Dr. Jameel, who is accompanying Yameen on his tour of the atolls, announced that he was no longer aligned with the government coalition, but had joined the opposition.

He said that the current administration which the people had helped bring to power had proven to be a huge disappointment.

“I don’t believe the country’s economy is on the right track. I believe the people of this country have become very impoverished. No project is being run in this country. And if you look at the Maldivian laws and other events enfolding in this country, you see the level of helplessness of the people, isn’t it? Its apparent that everything is being directed a certain way. I believe this needs to be put an end to,” said Dr. Jameel, who had served as advisor to Qasim Ibrahim, the leader of government coalition partner Jumhoory Party (JP).

Dr. Jameel, who unsuccessfully ran for the Vilimale’ seat at the Parliament this year, said that the people of Maldives were facing disappointment and hopelessness, and that he joined the opposition to restore hope to the Maldivian people.

Yameen and Dr. Jameel are joined in the tour by parliamentarians from PPM and People’s National Congress (PNC), as well as senior officials from the two parties.