Recently ousted opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Dr Ibrahim Didi despite a vacant ministerial portfolio in the cabinet of the current government, he had no interest in assuming office as a Minister. Speaking to the media after a meeting with Vice President Mohamed ‘Deen’ Waheedhudeen at Bandos Island Resort last night, Didi revealed that he had earlier turned down an offer for a position in the cabinet of the new government.
“I don’t even intend to accept a ministerial post and there have been no discussions with members of the government regarding the same,†Didi who had served as the Fisheries Minister in the previous administration said.
He further claimed that the discussions with VP Deen had been with regard to the new government’s plans on local government system and reintroduction of drug addicts to society.
Didi revealed that the VP’s had formulated an impressive plan to reintroduce drug users to society. Didi also admitted to VP Deen that the consequences of the failure of sustaining the ‘Second Chance’ program initiated by the Nasheed administration were being seen.
“Which means that when they are returned to the society, they should have a way to ease into their life, a way to stand up and support themselves, availability of job opportunities. Without all these, the program would not produce the expected results. Hence a better future for these people cannot be entertained unless a fully-fledged system is in place account for them†Didi said.
Didi said that VP Deen has formulated a fully-fledged rehabilitation program within which a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts would be established and to provide vocational training for them within the institution.
He added that VP Deen had shared details of a plan to establish a factory in Himmafushi to provide job opportunities for the rehabilitated people.
Didi said that Deen had started work on a local governance authority network long ago and that the VP had discussed the matter with him since the time Didi was in the shadow cabinet.
Didi said that MDP had also wanted to share the concentrated powers with other areas of Maldives but had failed to do so when the opportunity presented itself. He added that the decision by the former administration on January 1, 2011 to assign all policy making duties for all the uninhabited islands to the National Planning Council under the Finance Ministry had revoked the authority of the Fisheries Ministry.
While Didi met with VP Deen last night at Bandos, he had previously met with President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.
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