MP Fazil Says Public Doesn’t Need to Know Commercial Terms Agreement with Eagle Hills, Claims No Such Agreement Exists

Dhaandhoo constituency MP Mohamed Fazil has stated that the Maldivian public does not need to know the contents of the Commercial Terms Agreement signed between the government and Eagle Hills, a UAE-based company with ties to Israel, and further claimed that no such agreement exists in the first place. Speaking to the press after a meeting at Muliaageh convened by the President to consult with MPs and ministers regarding the Rasmale project, Fazil responded to questions from journalists. When asked whether the government should seek public consultation before signing a permanent agreement with Eagle Hills and whether the Commercial Terms Agreement should be made public, Fazil described the agreement as a matter between private parties. “Matters between private parties are not something the general public needs to know. It will go to the 241 Committee in Parliament, and when the time comes, the information will be shared,” Fazil said. Asked why the government had not shared the contents of the agreement with the 241 Committee given that the ruling PNC holds a majority in Parliament, Fazil replied that the agreement does not exist at all. “How can you discuss something that does not exist? There is no Commercial Terms Agreement. How can you give something that does not exist?” Fazil said. Despite his remarks, the government signed a Commercial Terms Agreement with Eagle Hills on September 21 regarding 500 hectares of land in Rasmale. On the same day, the government issued a press release containing some information about the agreement. However, to date, the full agreement has not been made public. A resolution submitted by the opposition MDP to the Parliament demanding disclosure of the agreement's details was also rejected. The government says the Rasmale land is being given on a 99-year lease. However, Eagle Hills has stated that if the land is sold before the initial 99-year lease expires, a new 99-year lease period would begin.