We will ensure that Maldives is among the ten least corrupt countries: Dr Hassan Saeed

Running mate of Jumhooree Coalition’s presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim, Dr Hassan Saeed has said that a Jumhooree Coalition government would ensure that by the end of its term, the Maldives is included in the list of ten least corrupt countries.

Dr Hassan Saeed made this remark while speaking at a press conference held by Jumhooree Coalition today.

“In order to increase investor confidence, we will ensure that Maldives is included in the list of ten least corrupt countries before the end of our five-year term,” Dr Hassan Saeed said.

When asked by Sun about the action that would be taken in order to fight corruption, Dr Hassan Saeed said that Jumhooree Coalition would invite experts of Transparency International and experts from the least corrupt countries around the world to visit the Maldives, and take action based on their experience and advice.

He went on to say that the Jumhooree Coalition government would work towards expanding to economy by introducing various economic systems. He said that they would divide the Maldives into three divisions to ensure development, expand the agriculture sector, establish a system whereby commodities required in the Maldives can be produced locally, and also develop transhipment harbours.

Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Minister of Tourism Anil Adam said that a Jumhooree Coalition government would increase income from the tourism sector, and start the operation of international flights by national airline Maldivian. He said that it had been decided to establish a system to facilitate tertiary education and training for Maldivians in the tourism sector.

In response to a question by Sun, Dr Hassan Saeed said that a Jumhooree Coalition government would bring down the price of US Dollar to MVR 12.85 by retaining dollar in the country.

When asked if airports can be established in all atolls that currently lack airports, he said that that is possible, and even though losses might be incurred from some airports, the project as a whole would make profit.

Dr Hassan Saeed also said that back in 1999, when presidential candidate of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdullah Yameen held the post of Minister of Economic Affairs, foreign experts visited the Maldives to establish a multi-media city in Laamu Atoll, but this project failed “because of the proposition that the royalties for this project should go to certain people’s accounts, instead of being paid to the government”.

Referring to this remark, Yameen’s spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali told Sun that this is not true, and that people make such remarks because they are worried about PPM winning the election.