We will move forward with our tax payers- Adeeb

Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Adeeb has said that the government will give legal aid to tourism tax payers and will move forward with them.

Minister Adeeb informed Miadhu Daily that when he was appointed as the Tourism Minister there were a total of 12 people who were not paying their taxes. However, after holding some discussions with them 10 of them are now paying their taxes.

Adeeb said that there are two who have not been paying any taxes and among them is the former President Mohamed Nasheed’s economic advisor Shiyam’s 3A company. He noted that Nasheed and his followers have been trying to damage the reputation of Maldivian tourism and calling tourists to boycott the country.

Adeeb said that the ministry is now compelled to take legal action against those who refuse to pay their taxes.

“Tax payers are saying that there is no justice in letting those who refuse to pay their taxes to operate their resorts. They say that if this continues then they will also stop paying their taxes. So we are compelled to take legal action,” he said.

Adeeb said that since Nasheed’s resignation he has been trying to harm the economy of Maldives by destroying the tourism industry. He said that the government will face these challenges and will win against the boycott campaign of Nasheed.

“In the past three years, MDP, especially Nasheed has been spreading lies about Maldives. They are doing whatever it takes to distort the image of Maldives,” he said.