Sinking nation rhetoric is reiterated to gain publicity- Adheeb

Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb has said that the ‘sinking nation’ rhetoric is exaggerated and reiterated by the former President Mohamed Nasheed to gain publicity and fame.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Minister Adheeb said that Nasheed’s government took advancement from the leased Maldivians resorts by extending the contracts from 35 years to 50 years while he tries to increase his popularity claiming that three islands get totally submerged in water every year. The Minister said that this raises doubts regarding Nasheed’s many ‘climate change’ rhetoric.

“He became popular by acting and making movies. And to gain fame he sacrificed the economy and the tourism industry of our country. And it is the people who are left to pay for the consequences of the popularity he earned through this. The everyday life of the citizen has been sacrificed for his own gain. I believe that it is important to see whether he really deserves fame and popularity or whether it was economical crimes that he perpetrated to gain fame,” he said.

Adheeb said that there are no reports recorded in the history of Maldives of any islands being totally submerged in water due to climate change and sea level rise.

“The islands of Maldives are low level islands. Therefore, the islands have always suffered from soil erosion. This was first because some of our forefathers used to take our corals from the reefs and damaged the reefs. So there was no barrier between the huge waves that hit the shores. And the other main reason was that harbours were constructed without prior studies and research,” he said.

Adheeb said that the danger of soil erosions can be prevented by taking meticulous measures. He said that such hard works have actually controlled soil erosions in some of the islands.

“Our current government doesn’t want to tackle this problem by producing films and deceiving the public. However, the current government will tackle the impacts of soil erosion as it is done in well developed countries of the world,” he said.