News Desk
Maldivians have fallen into deep poverty and severe financial hardship under the current administration, former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer warned during an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally.
Ameer, who served as Finance Minister under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, claimed the country has never experienced economic distress this severe. He urged that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s inconsistent economic policies are directly driving the public into financial misery.
Comparing the current situation to 2023, Ameer estimated that poverty levels among citizens have surged by 30 to 40 percent.
“This is no small matter,” Ameer said during his address at the MDP Haruge meeting. “Businesses across the Maldives have completely gone bankrupt. There is simply no room left for further bankruptcy.”
Ameer highlighted that the cost of living has skyrocketed, with the prices of everyday goods doubling on average. He blamed erratic policy implementations for pushing inflation to unmanageable levels.
He also pointed to severe disruptions hitting the nation’s key economic pillars—tourism and fisheries. Constant shifts in dollar policies have exposed the tourism industry to widespread damage, while local fishermen continue to face massive downturns.
Comparing current fish catches to his tenure as minister, Ameer insisted that a government genuinely caring for fishermen would have delivered real solutions.
“Right now, fishermen aren’t catching any fish at all,” Ameer said. “It is the direct result of this government’s utter mismanagement.”
