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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