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Maldives gets new Finance, Tourism Ministers
Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday appointed
new Finance and Tourism ministers following resignations by
key figureheads in his Government.
Maldives Monetary Authority (Central Bank) Governor Abdullah
Jihad, was appointed Finance Minister and Dr. Abdullah Mausoom
was promoted as Tourism and Aviation Minister from his previous
post of Deputy.
The appointments follow shocking resignations of Qasim Ibrahim
as Finance Minister and Dr. Mahmood Shougee as Tourism and
Aviation Minister, last week.
Perhaps the most wealthiest Maldives businessman and founder
of giant Villa Group, Qasim also resigned from the ruling
DRP on Sunday, creating a mini political crisis for President
Gayoom, Asia’s longest serving leader, with nearly 30
years in office, who is also preparing to contest for a fresh
five-year term.
The exit of Qasim has fuelled speculation that he will run
for Maldives’ presidency, in a landmark multiparty poll
under a new Constitution, which is pending ratification. So
far, four popular leaders from the Opposition have declared
their candidacy for the Presidential election, slated to be
held before mid October.
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