No reason to worry about proposed tax bills, says the President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said today that there was no reason why people should be worried or discomforted by government-proposed tax bills.

In today’s edition of his weekly Radio Address aired every Friday, the President said that the country’s economic performance and development would only be enhanced with consultation of traders and businesses. He denied that introduction of a tax system following the passage of bills now in Parliament would have negative effects on the economy and people’s lives as claimed by opposition Members of Parliament and traders’ associations. The President assured that the tax system would only contribute to the progress and well-being of the people.

The President gave a briefing on the upcoming Official Inaugural Ceremony of Government Economic Program, which is set to be conducted on next Monday. He said that the economic policies and vision of the government would be very well explained during the ceremony, and that a briefing on the 18 various economy-related bills would also be given to the public.

Sending greetings on the occasion of World Youth Day, 12th August, the President said that the government had special programs designed to give professional training to young people, which would culminate in creation of jobs for 8500 young people.

The President also spoke about the Second Chance Program, under which he had conditionally pardoned some 400 convicted criminals serving sentences on the occasion of Maldives’ Independence Day, on the 26th of July. He urged all persons to fulfill the conditions of pardon and warned that any released convicts who failed to comply with those conditions would be resent for serving their original sentences.

Some 400 convicted criminals have been pardoned by the President on the occasion of Independence Day this year, and they are released on condition that they should keep an untarnished record of law-abiding civil life for a period of three years. If any of the released person defaults during the period, they would be sent back to prison to complete the original sentences, and if they complete the period without blemish, their pardon would be complete. The government has promised that all released convicts shall be provided with lodging if necessary, and that they will all be provided with job opportunities in government projects and companies, and if possible, with private employers as well.

The first round of pardoned convicts, including 47 of them was set free last night.