Pres slams Gasim for 'angry' remarks on lagoon sale halt
The president said he has always worked within the constitution and the legal framework.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday responded to Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim's remarks on Saturday expressing displeasure with the government over the halt on the sale of K. Vaaveddhi lagoon given to his Villa Group. Responding to Gasim, the president said that he did not interfere in the case and would continue to act within the legal framework.
Speaking at the JP council meeting held at Paradise Island Resort on Saturday, Gasim accused the president of having influenced and halted the sale through the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
"Tell me. Who can stop it? The president will have no power when the Supreme Court decides. That is the way it is in the constitution," Gasim said.
"I cant stand this level of transgression. It's too much. It's more then enough. You have to go back. Now go home. Very clearly I’m saying, go home now."
The JP alleges that the sale of the lagoon was stopped to prevent the party from contesting the presidential election by creating financial hindrances for campaigning. Gasim said his company owed USD 12 million to the government. It has also become difficult to pay salaries to employees with the economy not running well after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters at Salt Cafe after the ceremony where Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir joined MDP, the president responded to Gasim's remarks.
The president said he has always worked within the constitution and the legal framework, and that he has never deviated from the constitution and the laws no matter how important an issue or how close he is to the party involved in an issue. He has never influenced independent institutions and assures that he will not do so in the future.
"It is up to them to say what they please out of anger," the president said, without naming Gasim.
ACC had in early June asked the tourism ministry to halt the sale of the lagoon, which Villa received in January as part of a compensation package mandated by the Supreme Court for previous lease terminations, after an individual filed a complaint with the ACC within the public complain window the ministry usually gives when it receives such lease transfer requests.
