MDP calls for referendum before selling Hulhumale' to UAE

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a resolution to its National Council calling for a visible or invisible referendum before selling Hulhumale’ to the United Arab Emirates. The National Council meeting will take place tonight at 9:00. Suspecting that the Hulhumale’ project, operated under the name of Maldives Waterfront and Marina, is being carried out in a manner that diminishes the wealth of Maldivian citizens, the MDP has called on the government in this resolution to hold a visible or invisible referendum before undertaking any practical work under this agreement. According to the resolution, handing over 500 hectares of land to a foreign company for 99 years without any acquisition cost and without having to pay any rent is a major fraud against the people’s money. The MDP highlighted that significant legal errors were made in handing over this project, which was done in violation of state financial regulations without any invitation to bid. Furthermore, the MDP’s resolution describes the fact that every time these lands are leased to third parties, the lease term becomes 99 years as a dangerous act akin to permanently transferring ownership of the country’s land to foreign entities. In this matter, the MDP has called on the government to do three important things: make public the details of the business agreements of this project; hold a visible or invisible referendum or a referendum among the people regarding such a large project; and conduct no transactions that would create any rights for any party on this land before the results of such a vote are obtained. The commercial terms for selling 500 hectares of Hulhumale’, which is being reclaimed from Fushidhiggirufalhu using state funds, were signed on September 21. Efforts are underway to sign the permanent agreement for the project on November 11, which is the Republic Day of the country. The government made a deal to sell Hulhumale’ after President Mohamed Muizzu promised that not even a single sand dune there would be rented or given free to anyone outside, even for one day.