Nasheed: Democracy, not concrete, drove Thinadhoo’s growth

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said the root of Thinadhoo’s development is not concrete, but progress through the democratic system, speaking at a rally attended by former President Abdulla Yameen on Saturday evening.

Nasheed made the remarks at the official ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Thinadhoo’s resettlement. The island was repopulated in 1966, four years after it was forcibly depopulated during the Suvadive rebellion, an event that remains one of the most painful chapters in the history of the southern atolls. The anniversary is being commemorated with a three-day programme organised by Thinadhoo City Council.

Nasheed’s comments at an event where Yameen was also present are widely seen as a pointed contrast to Yameen’s development philosophy. Yameen is known for large-scale infrastructure projects and “concrete development,” and he highlighted the work carried out in Thinadhoo during his administration when he addressed the gathering.

Speaking after Yameen, Nasheed said protests against the lack of decentralisation in the past eventually led to the secession of the three southern atolls. He said the introduction of decentralisation and the work done with the people of Thinadhoo brought a democratic system to Maldives.

“The root of all the development you see in Thinadhoo today is the democratic system. Your development is not concrete. Your development is the change in your thinking. Your respect for freedom,” Nasheed said.

He said the people of Thinadhoo have understood that state revenue can be increased through democratic governance. Before 2008, the annual state budget was around MVR 7 billion, but in the 18 years since democracy, the figure has grown to more than MVR 15 billion, he said.

Nasheed said the state should build roads, buildings, ports and sewers as revenue increases, but the one thing that must not happen while doing all that is “stealing,” he said.

The remark is believed to have been directed at Yameen, who has faced allegations of corruption during his administration.