PO signals no halt to sale of Faafu Atoll

President’s Office has signaled that the proposed sale of Faafu Atoll will go ahead as planned.

A statement released by the Office on Tuesday said the Government will be relentless in its push for development in spite of the many attacks pushed by the opposition. The statement added that development will follow the constitutional means and will not do anything that damaged national interest.

The statement was released after opposition MUO warned of action against the sale and announced that if sold, the Atoll will be taken back within a period of 24 hours after MUO comes to power.

The group made the statement in a press conference held Monday evening in the offices of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Former Youth Minister and MUO’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Guesthouses Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal said the amendment was in violation of the Constitution. He said the amendment was illegal from the start. Maleeh further said the 58 MPs from the ruling PPM had been threatened one hour before the vote on the amendment.

Only four islands in Faafu Atoll are inhabited, with 4,100 people scattered over the islands. Raajje.mv understands that Saudi monarch is interested in creating a luxury city in the uninhabited island of Himithi and surrounding lagoons, which will become home to one million individuals. Raajje.mv also understands that the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will sign the agreement for the sale during his March trip to the Maldives.

The Government is yet to deny or confirm the sale and the President’s Office had not denied the rumors to that effect. However, President Yameen, his Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials have all talked in a manner that supported these rumors.