
Cash-strapped Maldives slashes government appointees
The Maldives president has sacked more than 225 political appointees, including ministers, in a bid to reduce the cash-strapped Indian Ocean nation’s expenditure, his office said on October 15. Mohamed Muizzu ordered the removal of those he appointed after coming to power last year as the small but strategically located nation struggles to stave off a debt crisis. “This significant reduction in political appointments aligns with the president’s broader efforts to streamline government operations and ensure more efficient use of public funds,” a statement from Muizzu’s office said. Among those sacked were seven state ministers, 43 deputy ministers and 178 political directors. It was not clear what functions they performed in the tiny nation of about half a million people. The statement did not say how many more political appointees remained in the administration but added that the mass reduction of staff would save the country about $370,000 a month…....