President: Even with the budget, lack of contracting companies impedes projects

President Abdulla Yamin Abdul Gayoom has said that even with the budget in place, there are very few companies that can do some types of work.

Speaking at the “Sports Manifesto – Assurd” ceremony at Dharubaaruge tonight, President Abdulla Yamin said that although there is a budget of MVR 300 million for sports, there are only two-three companies to construct stadium. And that that doesn’t allow building too many stadiums, pitches and sports arenas.

“…when looking to spend of sporting infrastructure, we don’t have the capacity to absorb it. Maldives does not have companies to build that much stadiums. We can award 20 or 30 stadiums to a company. But at a local level it’s two companies or three companies, Road Corporation and STO.” President Yamin said.

The President said that aside from Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) and STO, something like that can be done by MNDF. But building a large number of stadiums by them is not something that can be done.

President Yamin said that the number of mosques to be built by the Government and from the aid from the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other individuals brings the number to about 27 or 30 but due to the lack of companies for the work, even half of the projects have not begun yet.

He said that those who criticize the Government would say that we can’t spend even close to the MVR 300 million for the youth but the spending is impeded with the lack of companies for the projects.

In his speech, the President highlighted the Government’s efforts to empower women into sports. And said that the construction of 82 Bashi (local sport mostly played by women) courts have been tasked to be completed within the year.