Maldives opposition MPs to oppose main port "sale"
“Since some of the information has been revealed on social media, the party will verify it and then make a statement,” Mauroof said.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group (PG) on Sunday said it would be a big mistake to sell Maldives' main commercial port to be established at Kaafu atoll Thilafushi.
There have been rumours on social media, for sometime now, that the current Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is going to lease the commercial port. MPL has already denied the allegations and said it is in talks with several companies to develop the site. However:
-
Last Friday, an MOU that was allegedly signed to hand over the operation of the port to a Philippine company was leaked on social media
-
After the document was leaked, MPL CEO Mohammed Wajeeh told some media that they are in talks with three foreign companies to develop the port
-
These include China Harbor Engineering Company, Dubai Port World and International Container Terminal Services (ICTS) of the Philippines
-
According to Wajeeh, the companies are not being discussed with to operate the port, but to hand over the development of it
The MDP PG’s office held a press conference at the parliament building on Sunday. The group's spokesperson Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir explained their stand on the matter.
"We are receiving information saying that the official sea port of Maldives is being sold off. If so, it is very wrong. It is unacceptable, especially to sell our international container port. We will do our best against it," he said, when asked what MDP’s stand would be if the port was leased for either development or operation.
Mauroof said the party leadership and party-affiliated committees are looking into the issue.
“Since some of the information has been revealed on social media, the party will verify it and then make a statement about it,” Mauroof said.
Asked if the party would oppose the port being leased only to develop it, he said, "If anything is done to the detriment of the people, we will do everything necessary against it”.
