The Chief Government Spokesperson at the President's Office, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, has stated that, with the exception of requests falling under areas legally exempted by the Right to Information Act, all Right to Information (RTI) requests submitted to the President's Office have been processed and answered as of Friday.
He made these remarks during today's session of the 'Presser with the Spox' series, in response to a journalist's inquiry regarding the constitutional right to information.
The Spokesperson noted that the Government is actively encouraging other ministries and state institutions to adopt a similar approach, while providing them with the necessary assistance and resources to expedite responses to information requests.
Furthermore, he stated that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's vision is for the Government to achieve 100 per cent compliance under Section 37 of the Right to Information Act, which mandates the proactive disclosure of information by State authorities.
During today's session, the Spokesperson also shared additional details regarding the impacts on the Maldives resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf. In this regard, he highlighted the efforts of the Special Cabinet Committee, which is working to secure alternative cargo routes for the Maldives, as well as the adjustments made to supply chains from the UAE. These measures are part of preparations to mitigate potential commodity shortages resulting from shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Spokesperson also addressed the impact on tourism of changes in air travel due to the conflict. He noted with optimism that, while tourist arrivals for the year have seen a 16 per cent decline compared to the same period last year, this is a smaller drop than initially projected by the relevant authorities at the onset. He added that, in anticipation of the upcoming summer holiday season, flight operators have been requested to increase operations between the Maldives and its key source markets.
A total of 14 journalists attended today's session, which marked the fourth meeting in the 'Presser with the Spox' series.