Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer on Wednesday evening said smear campaigns were having a negative impact on the Government’s developmental projects.
Zameer told PSM News that smear campaigns and spread of falsified information in the international media were taking a negative toll on development and the country’s economy. “The Government is working tirelessly to counter tourism boycott attempts, which he also said requires huge spending”, he said.
He added that “tourist arrival numbers dropped after the opposition claimed that terrorist cells secretly operate in the country”. “Despite a negative impact from such action, the Government’s policies still remain strong and it is committed to deliver socio-economic development”, he further said.
Deputy leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) - Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla called the opposition “disingenuous”, and said smear campaigns against the Government will be defeated. He also called on opposition figures, who are currently living abroad in self-imposed exile, to “return to the country and be transparent in efforts to hold the Government accountable”. He further reiterated statements by other government-aligned lawmakers, that every attempt to oust the Government will be thwarted.