Guesthouse business best way to reduce poverty: Nasheed

Development of guesthouse businesses is the best possible way to reduce the income gap and lower poverty in the Maldives, former president and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s interim president Mohamed Nasheed has said.

Former president Nasheed made the statement in meetings with international partners based in Sri Lanka including U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Michele J. Sison, Australian High Commissioner accredited to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Robyn Mudie, French ambassador accredited to the Maldives Jean-Paul Moncha and World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Adam Sack.

During his visit, the opposition party’s interim president also briefed international partners on the political situation and other issues in the Maldives. MDP said the former president highlighted an increasing concern of Maldivian jihadists going to religious conflicts to die in suicide bombings in the name of Islam.

The former president also noted that the coalition government, in the short period since coming to power in November 2013, has already been divided and lacks popular support.

Spokesperson at the President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz Ali said former president Mohamed Nasheed’s meetings with international partners was a clear attempt to discredit the current government.

Muaz said international partners are fully aware of the governments efforts to improve the lives of its people and noted that the government is preparing for major development projects such as the construction of a bridge between Male’ and Hulhumale’. Muaz also said that the government fully recognizes the opposition’s right to freedom of expression.