Majlis fast-tracks bill to lease islands without bidding
21 Jun 2016, 9:00 AM
The ruling party-dominated parliament voted today to push through changes to the tourism law that would authorise the government to lease islands without a competitive bidding process.
The government-sponsored amendments were only introduced Monday, but preliminary debate began at today’s sitting after MPs voted 31-5 in favour of a proposal by Speaker Abdul Maseeh Mohamed to fast-track the legislative process.
Opposition MPs accused the government of planning to “legalise corruption,” noting loopholes in the Tourism Act were exploited under President Abdulla Yameen’s watch to steal some US$65 million from resort lease payments.
The current law requires the ministry to make a public announcement and award islands for resort development to the highest bidder. But islands or land the government invests in wholly or through a joint venture are exempted from the procedure.
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