Committee holds closed-door meeting on dollar shortage at MMA’s request
The purpose of the meeting was for the MMA to brief the committee on its efforts to manage the country’s dollar liquidity situation.
The Parliament’s Finance Committee held a closed-door meeting on Monday to discuss the ongoing dollar shortage in the Maldives, following a request by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).
According to the agenda shared by the Parliament Secretariat, the purpose of the meeting was for the MMA to brief the committee on its efforts to manage the country’s dollar liquidity situation.
The meeting was held in secret at the request of the MMA. As the meeting commenced, Committee Vice-Chair Ahmed Saleem, a member of the PNC representing Eydhafushi constituency, stated that the MMA Governor Ahmed Munawwar had requested the meeting be kept confidential. No reasons for the request were provided.
The decision to close the meeting was met with opposition from some committee members. Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa of the MDP objected, stating, “I don't think the whole committee should be kept secret. If there is anything that must remain confidential, that specific part can be kept secret. The public should be informed of the questions being raised and the work being carried out.”
Hulhumale South MP Ahmed Shamheed supported Ghafoor’s remarks, stating that matters related to the dollar shortage should not be concealed from the public. He added that the issue did not concern national security and called for transparency in parliamentary proceedings.
“This practice of conducting all parliamentary work in secrecy achieves no purpose. It is not standard to keep a committee meeting closed merely because a government institution requests it,” Shamheed said. He added that the policy of the PNC and the President was to disclose information to the public, rather than to conceal it.
The motion to close the session was proposed by PNC MP Mohamed Mamdooh. He said that if the MMA felt the need to hold the meeting in secret, that request should be honoured. He added that the topic was of public interest and may involve significant information. Mamdooh expressed confidence that the MMA would disclose any necessary details to the public when appropriate.
Henveiru North MP Ahmed Aifan, also of the PNC, supported the motion. The proposal to hold the meeting behind closed doors passed with six votes in favour. Ghafoor and Shamheed voted against it.
