The state-operated Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has paid Ballard Partners a sum of MVR 9.27 million to fund a year-long public relations campaign, reported O’Dwyer’s.
O’Dwyer’s, a public relations and marketing news outlet published by the New York-based J.R O’Dwyer Company, reported as such on Friday.
The news outlet reported that the MMPRC is seeking strategic consulting and advocacy, specifically when dealing with United States government and the nation’s lawmakers.
“The Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives has hired Ballard Partners for a one-year USD 600K program to build support from US policymakers” they reported.
The MMPRC, which has been caught up in a series of corruption cases that have been described collectively as the largest in Maldives’ history, could not be contacted for a comment at the time of publishing.
The state of emergency imposed by the government, and the ongoing constitutional crisis in the Maldives, has been heavily criticized by nations across the globe and the United Nations.
In its last statement on the situation in the country, the United States expressed further disappointment. Heather Nauert, spokesperson at the US Department of State, said that the Maldives must respect its ‘international human rights obligations and commitments’.
U.S. disappointed by reports that state of emergency extended in #Maldives. U.S. continues to call on President Yameen to end the state of emergency and uphold the rule of law. pic.twitter.com/mC5ESpubSm
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) February 21, 2018
The government has been taking steps to curb international condemnation, in particular the impact it has had on tourism, and has sent envoys to a number of countries.
The government also invited members of international community to come to the Maldives and discuss the situation but refused to meet representatives of the European Union.
#VIDEO: EU representatives express 'frustration' at government refusal to meet them @Raajje_tv pic.twitter.com/XW7lmNTvzh
— Raajjemv English (@RaajjeEnglish) February 8, 2018
Government institutions, notably the police, have also uncharacteristically begun releasing statements in English and the ministerial-level officials have been heavily active on social networking outlets.
Ballard Partners is a politics-specific representation firm based in Washington, DC and Florida. The company was reported to have earned USD 5.2 million from representing US President Donald Trump and his organization.
Ballard Partners has also had a number of other high-profile clients, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s reformer turned accused-tyrant. The firm has also been linked to 2012 US presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
