Foreign observers cost more than a million, Maldives electoral body says
On April 21, their lunch and high tea cost MVR 17,708.33.
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By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
The Election Commission (EC) has spent millions of Rufiyaa on the expenses of foreign delegations who came to monitor and observe parliamentary elections.
According to figures released by the Commission, the EC’s biggest expenditure was made on the foreign observers’ accommodation, meals and rent of the conference hall, all at Crossroads Maldives.
A lot of money was also spent to arrange the VIP lounge at Velana International Airport for the foreign observers.
Thus:
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MVR 824,815.88 for accommodation, meals and hall rent for foreign observers
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MVR 157,746.90 for arranging the VIP lounge at the VIA
According to the data, a total of MVR 44,349 were spent on two way India-Male-India tickets through Island Aviation Services (IAS) to ferry the foreign delegation to and from the Maldives.
While MVR 7,494.12 was spent on the Delhi-Male-Delhi ticket procured through Villa Travels to bring in Chief Observer Dr Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi, another MVR 16,545.66 was spent on upgrading the ticket.
In addition:
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Observers trip to Male atoll cost MVR 17,500
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It cost MVR 18,318.28 for their lunch at Maagiri Hotel on April 20
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On April 21, their lunch and high tea cost MVR 17,708.33
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MVR 47,200 spent on various trips in Male atoll by sea
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It cost MVR 4,940.19 to prepare caps and tote bags for foreign observers
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MVR 3,057.48 was spent on refreshment kits
Foreign observers said that the parliamentary elections were well organized and managed.
