Caterer dismisses complaints of poor quality, corruption in presidential banquet
A restaurant that catered the presidential banquet on Maldives’ Golden Jubilee of Independence has dismissed allegations of poor food quality and corruption.
29 Jul 2015, 9:00 AM
A restaurant that catered the presidential banquet on Maldives’ Golden Jubilee of Independence has dismissed allegations of poor food quality and corruption in the use of funds.
President Abdulla Yameen hosted a dinner for some 800 guests, including foreign dignitaries and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Dharubaaruge on July 26. The catering contract was awarded without a bidding process to the recently opened restaurant Newport, owned by ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) activists.
Several people who attended the banquet complained over the poor quality of food to Maldives Independent and other local media outlets. One diplomat said the food was “inauthentic and tasteless.”
“The quality of food, the presentation did not meet the grandness of the occasion. Some of the food ran out halfway through the banquet,” complained the diplomat who wished to remain anonymous.
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