ayoom yesterday has accepted the resignation of Finance Minister Qasim Ibrahim and Tourism Minister Dr. Mahmoud Shaugy and appointed 2 new ministers to the cabinet.
According to a statement issued by the president’s office President Gayoom accepted Dr. Shaugy’s resignation in response to his resignation letters second and third of this month while Qasim’s resignation was accepted in response to his letter dated on the 10 th of this month.
President’s Office after accepting their resignations appointed two new cabinet ministers yesterday. In this regard, President appointed Abdulla Jihad of M. West View as the Minister for Finance and Treasury. Abdulla Jihad was the previously the serving as the Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority. Dr. Abdulla Mausoom was appointed as the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. Dr. Mausoom was previously serving the government as Deputy Minister of Tourism.
Dr. Mausoom and Jihad took the oath of their office at a ceremony held in the president’s office yesterday afternoon. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim.
Although President’s Office yesterday acknowledged that Dr. Shaugy submitted his resignation on two different occassions, his resignation was officially confirmed by the Leader of Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party as well as the President of the country President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during his address given at the closing the ceremony of the DRP congress held recently. After the president’s confirmation Dr. Shaugy did confirm his resignation to the media, something which he declined to do so earlier, despite widespread media speculation. However it must be noted that neither Dr. Shaugy nor the government had given any reasons for the resignation. Verbal attacks were exchanged between Dr. Shaugy and presidential Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) following the Shaugy’s resignation which was followed by the media.
Qasim immediately after submitting his resignation spoke to media on the reasons why he resigned. He said he resigned over government’s lack of cooperation to generate additional funds for the national budget. Qasim, since his resignation from the government, has resigned from the ruling party, DRP. However Dr.Shaugy has not resigned from DRP as yet but has accepted to take over another government position, the Vice Chancellorship of the Maldives University yet to be established.
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