Will reduce state deficit: Gasim Ibrahim

Presidential candidate for Jumhoory Party Gasim Ibrahim has noted that the state deficit needs to be tackled in order to improve the economy, and that revenue needs to be increased to reduce the deficit.

Speaking at the presidential debate hosted by MNU and TVM Sunday night, Gasim said that certain essential public services may have to be compromised to bring down the Sate deficit and bring the economy back on track.

“If we plan to achieve this by some means other than increasing the revenue, some of our current expenses have to be sacrificed. Even if it is sanitation and water systems, or the education system, we believe that there will be great obstacles,” Gasim said.

He said that a Jumhoory Party government will focus on the development of the tourism and fisheries sectors and promised to build a trans-shipment harbour in the country.

He will fine-tune taxation system, Gasim said, and promised that the his government will provide assistance in the development of tourist resorts and maintain salaries across all sectors.

He also noted that the standard of teachers in Maldivian schools have dramatically gone down, and said that his government will increase the salaries for teachers and ensure that all children who finish their GCE O’Levels have the opportunity to pursue higher studies.