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Politics

Better late than never? Maldives ruling party launches manifesto

The manifesto is around four months late.

19 Sep 2018, 9:00 AM

The Maldives ruling party Tuesday night launched its election manifesto, days before voting is due to take place and months after it was promised by President Abdulla Yameen.
Yameen, who is seeking a second term in office, launched the Shared Progress manifesto at a rally in the capital, where  supporters gathered to show the “real size” of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM).
The manifesto makes a number of eye-catching projections, including the increase of GDP from MVR70 billion in 2018 to MVR175 billion in 2023 and boosting jobs from 250,000 in 2018 to 663,000 in 2023.
“Tonight we have unveiled a manifesto that will double our income. That means this manifesto will raise our income to USD$20,000 if we currently get USD$10,000,” Yameen told the crowd.
He has shown a shaky grasp of facts and statistics in recent weeks.
The total registered Maldivian population at the end of 2017 was 378,114, official figures say.
It is expected to reach almost one million by 2054, according to UN estimates, with Maldivians comprising 57 percent of that figure.
The manifesto’s job claim would mean that, by 2023, there are more jobs than there are Maldivians.
Yameen said earlier this week that the GDP was USD$4,000 or USD$5,000 when he took office and that the GDP was currently USD$10,000. Neither of these assertions are true.
World Bank data says the Maldives GDP per capita was between USD$4,000 and USD$5,000 in the mid 1990s.
In 2014, the first year of Yameen’s presidency, it was USD$8,124. The GDP per capita for 2017 was recorded at USD$8,980 – short of the USD$10,000 claimed by Yameen.
The election is scheduled for September 23.
Below are the PPM pledges:
Infrastructure and urban development

Economic centres to be opened in the north and south

Development of Greater Malé Zone (GMZ)

Establish 5,000 housing units in atolls

Fresh drinking water facility and sewage system in all inhabited islands

A percentage of power needed for GMZ to be generated through waste management in Thilafushi

Seven waste recycling centers across the Maldives

Abolish duty from bicycles and create bicycle lanes in islands

Tourism

Increase tourism arrivals to five million

Establish a tourism zone in Huvadhu atoll

Develop 10,000 tourism beds in Huvadhu atoll

Make Faafu atoll into an integrated tourism hub

Develop an artificial surfing point in Hulhumalé

Turn Hulhumalé into a surfing destination

Develop high-end hotels in Malé (in land vacated after relocating port to Thilafushi)

Maritime hub

Malé port to be relocated to Thilafushi

Turn Thilafushi into a transhipment port

Connect Thilafushi port and Malé through a bridge

Bunkering, docking and oil facility in Addu

Financing

Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) to be changed into a development bank

Housing loan interest rates to drop to 5 percent, contributing rate to 15 percent

Islamic banking to all islands

Online payment system

1,000 loans available for women and youth wanting to start a business

ICT

Establish technology park in Villimalé 2

Build highly skilled ICT workforce

Reduce internet costs by 30 percent

Establish ‘Smart Maldives’ portal to access information and services

Fisheries

Fish processing centers in eight regions

SME loans and reducing import tariffs

Develop diamondback squid fishery

‘Fishermen Card’ to ensure priority when getting public services

Aquaculture and mariculture

Set a minimum price for yellowfin tuna

Fish canning factory in Addu

Agriculture

Self-sufficiency in five selected crops

Guarantee land for farming

Climate smart farming methods

Establish aggregation centers

Establish five agronomy research centres

Health

First organ transplant centre

Establish national medical diagnostic network

Dharumavantha hospital phase 2 – 850 bed medical facility

Restructure Aasandha scheme

Free test and monitoring kits to diabetic patients

Increase doctors through first medical university

Education

Annual scholarships for vocational and technical studies

Include digital literacy in curriculum

STEM education in curriculum

Train app developers and coders

Free tuition across the country

Program to ensure employment

Student card offering discounts in domestic air travel and public transport

Waive admin fees charged for loan schemes

Social protection

MVR5,000 disability allowance

Discounts for people over 65 in air travel and public transport

Incentivised use of special vehicles

Financial support for divorced women with young children

Offer tax rebates

Young people

Ensure homes for everyone over 18

Artist hubs

National football training academy

MVR300 million fund to assist NGOs

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