The government of the Maldives has vowed to continue to equitably provide essential services to all citizens.
The government made the statement following criticism from Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, who questioned the government’s policy of establishing essential services in all islands without being biased toward the size of the local population. In the Ask Speaker television programme, Speaker Nasheed said that developing water supply and sewerage systems in small island communities is a waste of state funds and that the government should focus on developing housing projects in islands with large populations.
Speaking at a press conference, the Spokesperson at the President’s Office Miuvaan Mohamed said that a citizen’s right to receive essential services is not based on the size of the local population and that the government’s policy is to develop essential services in all islands, without regard to the size of the communities. He said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s vision is to establish essential services first before developing other services. As such, he asked why anyone would move to newly developed housing projects if they are not guaranteed to receive sewerage, health, and education services.
Speaking at the third Viavathi Raajje conference in September, President Solih said that 70% of the inhabited islands in the country lacked water or sewerage systems until 2018 and that it was the administration’s aim to complete these essential services in all inhabited islands during his five-year term. He further emphasised that decentralised development was the cornerstone of all of the administration’s policies and reiterated that his administration sought equitable development, despite the size or political leanings of the island.