Mind the gap: Opposition manifesto launched with key details missing

The Maldives president has labelled the opposition a ‘cocktail coalition.’

17 Sep 2018, 09:00

Pledges and policies from the Maldives joint opposition were published Sunday in an election manifesto, although key details are missing from it.

Four opposition parties are challenging President Abdulla Yameen’s rule on a coalition ticket in scheduled for September 23.

The coalition comprises the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, the religious conservative Adhaalath Party, the Jumhooree Party and the Maumoon Reform Movement, a breakaway faction of the ruling party.

All four opposition leaders are either in prison or in exile. They are Mohamed Nasheed (MDP), Sheikh Imran Abdulla (AP), Gasim Ibrahim (JP) and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

The manifesto says a coalition agreement signed by the four leaders must be approved through parliament within 30 days of the coalition government securing a parliamentary majority.

They are required to sign an agreement which explains the steps to be taken if the coalition falls apart, but the manifesto does not include details of the agreement.

Nor is there any mention of key manifesto elements , including the switch to a parliamentary system and changing the elected government after 18 months.

All opposition parties, except the main Maldivian Democratic Party, are . The joint manifesto says the constitution will be amended to review the governing system but, again, no details are given.

The manifesto says a multi-party unity government will work to establish justice and return to democratic values within the first two years of the administration.

Yameen, who is campaigning for a second term, has mocked the four-party alliance as a “” of former rivals who fail to agree on fundamental issues.

The joint opposition’s presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, from the MDP, and his JP running mate Faisal Naseem have made while crisscrossing the country in their campaign tour.

The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives is expected to unveil its manifesto at a rally scheduled for Tuesday night.

Here are the main policies from the coalition manifesto:

Education

Free education up to first degree

Low-interest loan schemes

Restructuring scholarship schemes

Decentralising education through boarding schools, regional hostels and distance learning

Single-session schools

Increase pay and allowances for teachers

Training centres in seven regions for tourism professionals

Establish a national research centre

Caring Health System

Expand Aasandha health care to more countries

Child health protection ensured through schools

Steps to increase life expectancy

Establish regional psychiatric centres

Establish four regional hospitals with specialist doctors

Establish specialised hospitals in three regions

Establish a national mental health institute

Retirement homes will be opened

Introduce veterinary service

Revise salary structures (pay hike for nurses and health workers)

Legal framework on medical negligence and mental health

National Security Strategy and Defence Policy

Protect Islamic faith

Principles of prevention and defence diplomacy

Neutral foreign policy to respect jurisdiction of other countries

Protection to visitors and foreign workers

Create a national defence law

National security council, national command authority and foreign ministry will work closely with defence ministry

Defence ministry will have civil control of the Maldives National Defence Force

Measures to stop cyber-economic crimes

Measures against pirates and smugglers

Combatant command service will be provided in four regions

Housing

Housing will be provided for 20,000 families

4,000 families from Male’ will get housing

Introduce housing subsidy

Free housing for families that cannot afford rent

Policy for first-time home buyers

Home construction loan scheme

Bank interest for home loans will be lowered to six percent

Fishing

Direct sales with foreign vessels

Expanding fishing in the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone

Fisheries loans and financing

Abolish import duty from diesel

Fishermen training programs

Developing mariculture, aquaculture and reef fishing

Pension for long-serving fishermen

Tourism profits to all

Foreign travel agencies will be regulated to protect local travel agents

Easy financing for guest house industry

Island councils to market guest house islands

Launch Islamic tourism

Tourism diversification to target millennials

Rehabilitating dying reefs

Minimum 35,000 beds in five years

Training at least 30,000 locals

Ensure service charge for employees

Review rule on minimum number of local staff (resorts with low local employees low must contribute to a fund for tourism training and a tax incentive will be given if a resort has high number of local employees)

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Mind the gap: Opposition manifesto launched with key details missing

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