The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that it will resume publishing the Weekly Fiscal Developments (WFD) report this week, ending a four-month hiatus that has stirred concerns over financial transparency and accountability. Typically issued every Tuesday, the report provides a vital snapshot of government revenue, expenditure, and broader economic trends. The last update was released on 20th June, with a promised publication in late July that never materialised, leaving stakeholders and the public in prolonged uncertainty.
Ahead of the supplementary budget presentation in parliament, Finance Minister Moosa Zameer attributed the delay to advice from the Auditor General, who suggested withholding the WFD reports due to alleged errors left by the previous administration. Minister Zameer explained, “I am considering submitting it on Sunday, but some have suggested delaying it. Now, we have received the Auditor General’s advice and have sent the accounts accordingly. We haven’t received them back yet, but we are working on issuing them now.” He added that there may be adjustments to the figures once updated information is available.
However, the Auditor General’s reasoning has raised questions, as some argue that errors from a prior administration should not prevent the current government from providing timely fiscal reports. The prolonged delay has left a significant information gap, undermining confidence in the Ministry’s commitment to transparency. Observers have questioned why the Ministry chose to halt updates entirely rather than publish adjusted figures or clarify any discrepancies to the public.
The hiatus has also drawn international attention. The World Bank recently highlighted the absence of fiscal updates as a key issue affecting economic transparency in the Maldives. With the Ministry now set to resume publishing these critical reports, there are calls for clarity on why the Auditor General’s office deemed past errors sufficient grounds for halting regular financial disclosures and for an assurance that similar interruptions will be avoided in future.
As the Ministry moves to reinstate its reporting schedule, stakeholders are hoping for a clear explanation to restore public confidence in the government’s handling of financial data and its commitment to consistent transparency.
