The Government will waive import duty payable on diesel, food items required for healthy living and medicines, President Mohamed Nasheed has announced at a media meeting held yesterday in his office. The President said the Government's decision to waive duty on these items is part of its commitment and efforts to ensure an affordable living as promised in the President's election manifesto.
The President flanked by Minister of Finance Ali Hashim and Minister of State for Finance Ahmed Assad was speaking about the various aspects of the Government budget for 2009 to be proposed shortly. The budget is aimed at providing improved services for the people while working to develop and sustain the economy and industries of the country.
President Nasheed has said waiving off the duty of medicine is one of the Government's top targets to provide improved and affordable health services. There has been much concern about the high cost of health care in the Maldives despite the former Government's huge expenditure on health services. New President Mohamed Nasheed who won the 28 October the first multi-part presidential election has promised repeatedly he will make every effort to provide better and more affordable health care to the people.
The President has also announced in the same meeting the government has included the necessary funds for providing health insurance to 100,000 people next year which will be a great consolation to the people. Fisheries and transport sectors consume and electricity consumes the largest quantity of diesel. The Government has been paying subsidies to owners of fishing vessels and island electricity in view of the soaring global oil price until recently.
There are feelings of approval and happiness among the people about the decision of the President to waive off duty on such essential items for everyday living. But some expressed concern whether the traders will reduce the cost of these items according to the duty waiver. “It is very good news. President is showing his intent to fulfill his promises and help the people to afford a reasonable living. What we do not know is if the prices from shops will be lowered accordingly. The Government must check it vigilantly; otherwise there is no point of the duty waiver. Common man will not benefit from it" Ali Hassan, resident from Mafannu expressed his views of the news.
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