The President's plans and initiatives

On 3 February 2022, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih delivered his presidential address at the first sitting of parliament for 2022. He highlighted and spoke in detail on the many initiatives that the government has implemented, and plans to, over the course of his term in office. 

Efforts against extremism

First up was the issue of the increasing prevalence of extremism in the country, highlighted through the 6 May 2021 attack on Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.  The president spoke of a 'National Moderation Campaign' to educate extremists, although no details have been provided on how the program will target extremists. He also spoke of imams and muezzins being enrolled in degree programs and individuals having completed Quran teacher training programs in 2021 – how this links to extremism or efforts against extremism is vague. Meanwhile, his Envoy appointed to monitor the investigation into the attack against the Speaker, on 7 February, said that he was seriously concerned over the delays in the trials of the accused and charged for the attack on the Speaker. 

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic

The President also spoke on the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts by the Maldives, especially in administering vaccines against the virus. These efforts are indeed praise-worthy, and the government and private sector's foresight and sheer effort to re-open the country to tourism have ensured that the country is able to move forward without devastating economic and social effects.   

Education and human resource development

Human resource development and investment in education is something that the Maldives has always placed at the top of its list of priorities. This is evidenced by the mass migration to Malé, mainly to take advantage of the better education facilities and opportunities available in the capital. The social and economic problems arising from this, and the inability of previous governments to ensure equitable access to education is a story for another time. President Solih, in his address, said that by the end of 2023, more than 5,000 students are expected to complete their free degree and contribute to nation-building. The government has also announced an additional 720 higher education loan opportunities to allow those who wish to attain higher education overseas to do so. He added that 124 students have been granted loans to study medicine, and that 1,150 ICT and accounting professionals will be trained under the program.  It is hoped that these efforts are being made with consideration of the development needs of the country, and with the target of training trainers who will man the various TVET centers, junior colleges and polytechnics being established across the country. The introduction of satellite schools is a welcome initiative, especially in country so geographically dispersed, as is the announcement that teacher salaries are to be increased. 

Ensuring access to quality health care

President Solih also spoke of the efforts being made to ensure access to quality health care across the country. Five tertiary hospitals are being developed in five areas of the Maldives, and MRI and cardiac care treatment has also been established in the north and the south of the country. This combined with the number of health care professionals being trained should see the pressure and dependence on central Malé for health care being lifted. It is also hoped that the initiative to provide ambulances to all inhabited islands in the country by the end of March this year also ensures the availability of trained and experienced paramedics in the islands, as well as doctors and nurses. An ambulance by itself, without trained paramedics is just a transport vehicle. The President also spoke of begging the wealthy to have prescriptions filled having become a thing of the past, more so after the introduction of Aasandha and Husnuvaa Aasandha. However, social media today is still peppered with pleas for assistance. The government must investigate these issues and implement a comprehensive solution for access to healthcare. 

Access to adequate housing

Adequate housing and home ownership is, as the President stated, the single biggest need of the Maldivian people. He announced that 2,180 houses are being built to provide housing in the atolls, and that work on 5,000 housing units in ongoing in Hulhumalé. An additional 2,000 housing units are planned in Hulhumalé, 1,000 plots of land are to be provided from Hulhumalé and 2,000 from Gulhifalhu to residents of Malé. This means that a total of 10,000 housing solutions will be provided in the Greater Malè Area within the next two years. This, coupled with the connectivity bridge to be built linking Malé to Vilingili, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu will see further concentration of development, and congestion, in the area. 

Decentralisation and development away from Malé

The government, however, in line with its stated policy of decentralization and development for all islands, is also investing in infrastructure in the atolls. In December 2021, it signed contracts to establish water and sewerage systems in islands that did not have such systems in place. Investments are also being made to build and upgrade roads and modern power plants, as well as in sustainable and renewable energy. It is hoped that all development, however, are in line with the government's stated objectives of ensuring environment sustainability. One initiative in the right direction is the ban on open burning of waste, especially in Thilafushi, and plans to implement similar systems in 64 islands across the country, as well as the ban on single-use plastics. 

Encouraging SMEs

The President also highlighted the policy measures in place to encourage small and medium enterprises, the backbone of any country. The establishment of the SME Bank, and the provision of much needed financing through the Bank was a well-received reprieve for entrepreneurs seeking finance, although as the President said, it is nowhere near the target that it set out to achieve. 

Achievements in foreign policy

The country has also made great strides in foreign policy, marked by the election of the Maldives' Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the President of the UN General Assembly. The President, in his address, highlighted the development assistance extended to the Maldives from India, China, Japan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and a host of other countries, all of which have played prominent roles in taking the Maldives to where it is now. 

The President, in his address, touched upon his administration's major initiatives and plans to further the development of the country. It is this publication's sincere hope that these come to fruition, for the betterment of the people and the nation.