Parliament committee hears fiscal reports behind closed doors
Seven members of the Public Accounts Committee supported keeping the meeting secret.
By
Ahmed Naif
The meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held on Monday to discuss the information obtained by the Committee from Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Shafeeg in connection with the ongoing efforts to study the financial and economic situation of the country has been conducted behind closed doors.
The first item on the agenda of the Finance Committee on Monday was Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Shafeeg briefing the committee. However, the committee's chair Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim called the change in the agenda after the minister informed that he was unable to attend the meeting due to illness. Gasim said:
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Monday's agenda was to discuss the contents of the letter on the financial situation of Maldives sent by the Minister
Upon commencement, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Dhiggaru Constituency Member Ahmed Nazim said that Minister Shafeeg had requested to provide information he relayed to the committee in secret. His letter also requested the same and therefore Nazim suggested holding a meeting to discuss the letter sent by the minister as confidential information, and he said that it cannot be held in the presence of the media. Thus he proposed:
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Keep the session secret; the motion was supported by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau
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When asked for a vote, seven members of the committee supported keeping the meeting secret
Committee chairm Gasim then announced that the meeting would be conducted in secret, and ordered the media personnel in the committee room to leave.
At Monday's meeting, MP Nazim added that after talking to the Finance Minister, he would like to disclose the information to the committee later if he so requests. Nazim said he has received indications that a meeting with the Finance Minister will be held on Wednesday.
