MDP calls for disclosure of Fushidhiggaru Lagoon agreement and a public referendum on land ownership transfer

The main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has called on the government to disclose the full details of the agreement regarding the Fushidhiggaru Falhu project. The party expressed significant concerns over the deal, which involves the allocation of a large portion of the lagoon to a foreign company.

In a press statement, the MDP expressed concerns over the government's transparency regarding the "Ras Male'" project. The opposition party highlighted questionable elements in the deal, which involves granting a significant portion of Fushidhiggaru Lagoon to Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills company under the guise of a social housing initiative.

The MDP stated that the party remains consistently welcoming toward foreign investors. However, the party noted that there are numerous discrepancies between the information disclosed by the government and the details released by Eagle Hills regarding the company's involvement.

The MDP stated in its statement that if this project is beneficial to the Maldives, there is no reason for the government to hesitate in disclosing its details, adding that withholding information is a dangerous sign.

The MDP has called for public clarification regarding the duration of the agreement signed for this project, the financial obligations to be borne by the state, and the financial concessions and exemptions granted to the foreign company.

Furthermore, the party believes that the public must be informed of the company's specific duties and responsibilities.

The MDP's statement primarily focused on the issue of foreign land ownership in the Maldives. In this regard, the party asserted that the government must clarify whether any provisions in the project allow for foreign land ownership or include any elements that could lead to permanent foreign ownership in the future.

The statement emphasized that the government does not have the authority to formulate any policy or enter into any agreement that would allow foreigners to own land in the Maldives. It further noted that any decision regarding such a matter must be made directly by the Maldivian people.

Citing Article 4 of the Constitution, the MDP stated that since all powers of the state are derived from the people, major decisions such as granting land ownership to foreigners must be determined directly by the citizens.

Consequently, the MDP has called on the government to ensure that any such transaction proceeds only after conducting a public vote or referendum to ascertain the consent of the people.