Budget shortfalls impacting project completion, says Sports Minister
Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu today stated that the current budget lacks sufficient funds to complete various sports projects. The minister made the remark while responding to questions from MPs during Wednesday’s Parliament sitting.
Addressing concerns about delays in sports projects across the islands, Minister Rafiu acknowledged that several projects had been delayed, and stated that the reasons for the delays are being investigated.
“Sometimes we don’t have enough money in our budget to complete the project. Even so, there are four or five projects allocated for some islands,” Rafiu said.
The minister explained that while the budget allows for the initiation of projects through advance payments, subsequent payments often face delays, causing the projects to come to a standstill.
“(The project) is stalled if the payment is not received. Then, we have to budget it for the next year to carry them out,” Rafiu said.
The minister also noted that some projects are undergoing changes, adding that these projects have also faced delays due to a lack of additional funds to accommodate these modifications.
Minister Rafiu said some projects will be launched later in the year to ensure continuity of projects. The projects will start towards the end of the year, with the remaining funds to be included in the next year’s budget, he said.
