Taking credit for debt-ridden terminal opening is baffling: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that taking credit for debt-ridden terminal opening is quite the baffling move. He took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and tweeted via his unofficial account "@anehdhivehirajje", stating that he couldn't think of a reason as to why credit should be taken for the completion of the new terminal.

He tweeted this during a press conference held by MDP yesterday as former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer said in his speech that the majority of the airport was completed during MDP's government.

"I don't understand why credit should be taken for the USD 2 billion debt the country has shouldered, along with losing 15 years in the development process," said Nasheed.

The USD 2 billion is in reference to the debt the country owes in three years for the many projects Maldives has commissioned. Maldives currently has a debt of USD 9 billion (MVR 138 billion).

He gestures to his efforts to hand the airport over to India's GMR during his administration so that they can oversee the project, in reference to the 15 year loss. The airport project was handed over to GMR for 25 years on 28th June 2010.

The agreement was dissolved during former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed's administration in 2012 as it would have been a loss to the state. This resulted in Maldives having to pay USD 271 million (MVR 4.1 billion) which was settled during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration on 15th November 2016.

He has also given a speech last Saturday in the presence of high ranking tourism industry officials. According to Nasheed, if the initiative had been taken then or if the airport had not been taken from GMR, “the new airport would have been operating for 10 years without incurring USD 2 billion in debt”.

Nasheed's remarks came after Economic Minister Mohammed Saeed denied rumors that the Hanimaadhoo International Airport was being sold to India's Adani Group. Nasheed further stated that if Hanimaadhoo airport is operated by an airline, the benefits could be huge.

The government is preparing to open the new terminal on 26th July 2025 to mark the 60th anniversary of Maldives' independence.

The project, which began in 2016 during the administration of former President Abdullah Yameen and saw considerable delays, saw President Mohamed Muizzu's high ranking government official state that the project is being completed at a quick pace due to the hard work of the current government, and due to the president giving priority and importance to the completion of the project.

When the previous government ended, the airport, which was delayed due to delays in obtaining loans, was one of the top priorities, even if it had to be finished and opened phase after phase said President Muizzu when speaking of the airport.

Ibrahim Ameer, who was the Finance Minister during the former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government, said the majority of the project was completed during the Solih administration. The project, which had "stopped" with the change of government from Yameen's administration, had to be "restarted," Amir said in a post on X yesterday.

In order to compete the new terminal of Maldives' main airport, the current government has set up funds from the Saudi Fund totalling USD 100 million (MVR 1.5 billion) and a total of USD 80 million (MVR 1.2 billion) from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. A total expenditure of USD 600 million (MVR 9.2 billion) is being spent for the completion of the project.