US$313 million donor pledge is a “vote of confidence for the government”: President Nasheed

President Mohamed Nasheed called the donor pledge of US$ 313 million to the Maldives “a vote of confidence for the government on Monday.” Ironically though, on the very day, a key motion of no-confidence was passed in Parliament, dismissing the Auditor General, against the wishes of the President’s party, the ruling MDP.

“The International community have pledged US$313 million of financial assistance over the next three years to the Maldives in a strong vote of confidence for the government and its ability to implement its policies and deliver its pledges,” President Mohamed Nasheed said concluding the 2010 Maldives’ Donor Conference.

Nasheed called it a “tremendous achievement” to the country.

He said “this assistance would help the government implement its policies and deliver its election pledges.”

Co-incidentally though, this “vote of confidence for the government” came on the very day the opposition backed no-confidence motion on the Auditor General (AG) was passed in Parliament, with 43 in favour and 28 against, dismissing him from the post.

The ruling MDP staunchly opposed the motion in parliament but the party could not garner enough votes to retain the AG in his post.

Meanwhile, commenting on the donors’ pledge, the President’s office said that “at the end of this administration’s first donor conference, representatives from donor countries and multilateral organisations tied up the amount towards budgetary support and government’s priority areas.”

“These priority areas are closely linked to the conference’s key themes of macro economic reform, public sector reform, good governance, social development and climate change,” it said.

During the two day conference held at the Bandos Island Resort and Spa, representatives of donor countries and international organisations praised the Maldives’ smooth transition to democracy, government’s sound economic reform measures and proposed development policies, it noted.

In particular donor countries commended the government’s openness, transparency and the candid nature with which they discussed the challenges faced by the Maldives.

In concluding remarks, Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed thanked the donors.

“We were elected by the people on the basis of a series of key pledges and to bring social change and democratic reform to a country reeling from the impact of economic mismanagement, authoritarianism and the global recession,” Dr. Waheed said.

- Asian Tribune -