Male council sessions stalled over fish market contracts

Male City Council has been unable to hold sessions due to lack of quorum after the council moved to question its legal section head, Ali Naseer, over two million-dollar contracts signed for the development of a new fish market and a local market.

Two separate agreements were signed for the fish market project, both of which have since been suspended following concerns about errors in the awarding process.

According to Mayor Adam Azim, the first contract, valued at USD 6.1 million, was signed when President Mohamed Muizzu was serving as mayor. A second contract, valued at USD 9.6 million, was later signed under unclear circumstances while the mayoral post was vacant following Muizzu’s resignation to run for president. Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh was acting mayor at the time.

Azim said the second agreement was signed to the disadvantage of the council and bore the same contract number as the first. It was signed by the head of the legal section.

The council had summoned Ali Naseer, who signed the second agreement, to appear before a session on 22 August. Councillors were expected to question him on the changes made to the agreement and to decide whether he should face suspension pending investigation.

Councillor Mohamed Saif Fathih, who raised the issue, said both sessions scheduled since then have failed to proceed due to lack of quorum. Only six councillors attended the most recent meeting.

Saif also moved to discuss repeated power outages in Male and requested that a STELCO official be brought before the council for explanation.

The plan to build a new fish market and local market was initiated when Muizzu was mayor. The existing market was set to be demolished after the development.

Mayor Adam Azim said newly discovered documents revealed the existence of the two contracts, raising questions about accountability and the awarding process.