Yameen says Ras Malé concerns differ from 99-year resort leases

Former President Abdulla Yameen has defended his administration's decision to allow tourist resorts to be leased for 99 years, saying the policy differs from his concerns about the Ras Malé development project, which he alleges could involve the settlement of Jewish residents in the Maldives.

Speaking at a People's National Front (PNF) gathering on Sunday night, Yameen responded to remarks by Attorney General Ahmed Usham, who had pointed out that the former president introduced provisions allowing resorts to be leased for 99 years.

Usham's comments followed Yameen's criticism of proposals to lease land in Ras Malé to foreign parties for 99 years, which he had described as equivalent to permanently selling the land.

Yameen argued that the Tourism Act's provisions on long-term resort leases did not provide for foreign nationals to establish permanent settlements on Maldivian territory.

"That is not a law for settlement. In contrast, what is happening now concerns settlement," Yameen said.

He referred to Usham's statement that the government was drafting legislation to facilitate the proposed arrangements, arguing that the project was being pursued before the necessary legal framework had been established.

Yameen also drew a distinction between Ras Malé and a project involving Saudi investors that his administration had proposed in Faafu Atoll.

He maintained that the Faafu Atoll proposal did not involve plans to establish permanent settlements.

The former president challenged the government to disclose information demonstrating that the Ras Malé project would not involve the settlement of Jewish residents.

Yameen said his principal concern was the possibility of foreign nationals establishing permanent settlements on Maldivian territory, rather than the duration of land leases or the question of freehold ownership.

He claimed that the settlement of Jewish residents through the project would pose a risk to the Maldives' national interests.

"Are resorts leased for 99 years to establish settlements? Do citizens of foreign countries come and settle there, or are they resorts?" Yameen asked.

He said the distinction between commercial resort operations and permanent residential settlements was central to his criticism.

"This is not an issue I am raising about 99 years or freehold ownership. I am raising the issue of settling people on Maldivian land, and because they are Jewish," he said.

Yameen further claimed that establishing such settlements would have implications for Maldivian national identity.

He also criticised religious scholars for what he described as their silence on the matter.

The allegations concerning plans to settle Jewish residents in Ras Malé were presented by Yameen during his political address. The remarks did not establish that such a settlement arrangement forms part of the government's development plans.