President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced the decision to provide discounts on water bills and electricity bills for all households in the Maldives. The president made the statement in a virtual press briefing on the most recent updates and measures enforced to curb the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases.
Acknowledging the new restrictions would cause difficulties, especially to small businesses, the president announced further government initiatives to ease these burdens by offering financial aid and considerable deductions on utilities. The utility deductions include a 30% discount on water bills for all households and a 20% discount for all businesses, as well as a 40% discount on electricity bills for all households and a 20% discount for all businesses. These discounts are applicable for the month of May.
Furthermore, President Solih said the government would also be offering financial aid in the form of relief loans to small businesses, adding stimulus loans would also be announced in June via the Bank of Maldives (BML). The new restrictions are expected to negatively impact small businesses, and therefore, BML is set to provide USD 24.4 million in loans to gyms, saloons, cafés, and restaurants, he said.