The day before August 12, MDP presidential candidate Anni announced his housing policy, addressing an audience gathered at the site of the temporary shelters for tsunami victims, in Gaaf Alif Villingili. On the 12th, he briefed the media on his housing policy which seeks to provide adequate permanent housing to to over 5000 persons displayed by the 2004 tsunami who still live in temporary shelters.
The day after, on August 13, Hulhumaale Development Corporation announced that it would open applications for 488 flats to be completed in February next year. The government has announced that it would roll out 1500 flats in the next three years. This would cater to over 12,000 families who live in either slum conditions or “unaffordable” rent in Male’.
Dr. Hassan Saeed’s housing policy states that (social) security depends on (affordable) housing. He has said that his housing policy would seek to establish a mechanism that would provide affordable housing to all Maldivians and facilitate a housing finance scheme for new home owners. He has proposed to build 5000 – 8000 flats in selected islands, and that the schemes would not seek to make a profit and that having children or being married would not be made an eligibility criteria for housing.
The government has no clear housing policy that is adequate to cater for the needs of the people, and the DRP presidential campaign has not announced a housing policy that they would implement should the people elect their candidate to lead the next government.
Anni in his press conference to brief the media on his housing policy, said that; a government of his would seek to provide affordable decent housing to all Maldivians and also to provide construction materials for social housing at an affordable rate, and provide soft loans through housing finance. Anni also said that he would develop a land use plan in consultation with the people.
The majority of the Maldivian people – tsunami victims and the rest alike; continue to live in slum conditions and will continue to do so until there is sincerity in delivery of the noble policies that are being promised and would be promised by presidential hopefuls. Such sincerity in action is hard to come by, as it would badly affect the house-owners (nearly 20% of Male’ population) who live a luxurious life on income from rented properties.
Jumhooree Party who has announced that it would compete in the upcoming presidential elections is yet to announce its candidate in the race or its housing policy.
Smile and Let Smile 
Muna
August 17, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I hope NGOs working on human rights, would take up the issue and start a campaigne on informing public on merits (or lack of it) of housing policies/plans/announcments of each and every candidate plus the current government.The recent announcements by HDC reminds me of S. villingli project which is talked about once every five years.
Anonymous
August 16, 2008 at 7:07 pm
http://awardwinners.wordpress.com/vote now and make a differce. Dont vote for yourself
Anonymous
August 15, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Our leader Dr Munavvar will give affordable housing to everybody. Long live the Republicans.http://whoismunavvar.blogspot.com
Anonymous
August 15, 2008 at 10:08 am
For once candidates are actually talking about policy, instead of shouting insults at each other (everyone other than DRP). That is a step towards sincerity. Judging how sincere they are, requires judgement on their past actions. For instance, it is hard for me to believe Dr. Hassan’s sincerity, because I dont believe a person who wanted to bring about reform could ever have worked with Maumoon.So he quit, three years too late, unfortunately. Umar Naseer on the other hand, policy wise and him as a person is a huge turn off. The sincerity of candidates will finally have to be measured if they get elected and are in a position to carry out the pledges they made in their campaigns. To be able to do that, you have to vote them in! Talking about policy is good, lets compete on types of policies, not how much money each candidate can distribute to buy votes.
Anonymous
August 15, 2008 at 9:53 am
These are merely false promises coated with political gimmicks of the day to buy votes of poor innocent Maldivians.Don`t u think that if Maumoon can get hold on power by providing shelters for every Maldivian by rubbing on the magic lamp of alladin he would have done that too?wouldn`t he?