Biggest achieve of 2012 is safeguarding the public asset of Maldives – Shameem

Minister of State for Tourism, Ahmed Shameem has said that the biggest achievement of 2012 after the change of government in 7 February 2012 is safeguarding and protecting the public assets of the Maldives.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Shameem said that the former government tried to sell Ports Authority, Stelco, Post Office and Island Aviation after selling of Dhiraagu, Water company and the airport.

“True. The year ended with budget difficulties. Many things were not accomplished perfectly. However what was accomplished are not few either. The salaries of the civil servants withheld by the former government were released. Much has been done in the educational sector and the health sector. Many such matters can be highlighted,” he said.

Shameem said that the biggest accomplishment of the previous year is the withholding of the selling of many public assets planned by the former regime to be sold off. He said that the continuing of the Aasandha health insurance program and other allowances by managing the budget is also a great achievement.

In addition to this Shameem said that the assets of the state are the capital of the state. And therefore the state will be bankrupted if the public assets are sold off similar to the way a business will be bankrupted when all of its capital is used up. He said that the country was saved from this situation when the government was changed in February 7.

“We get loans only if we have something in our ownership that we can mortgage. So a person with nothing in his belongings cannot get loans. This is the same thing that happens with states. So when all the assets are sold off the state will not be granted any loans. This is something everyone knows,” he said.