Ready to follow gov't decision reg. seaplane terminal operations: minister

Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has stated that they are ready to proceed with the new seaplane terminal operations the way the government envisions it, even if it means having to bring changes to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) board.

This comes at a time the case of allegations against MACL for deciding to lease the new seaplane terminal to Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) for an unreasonable price, has made the spotlight and is currently being investigated.

An audit conducted by the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Maldives (ACC) shows that the state will face a USD 55 million (MVR 848 million) loss annually if the decision is followed through.

Speaking at the parliament’s Public Accounts Committee meeting on Monday, Ameer stated that MACL has been informed that they will not be allowed to carry out lease agreements as planned before the new government took over.

Ameer stated that the government’s decision prioritizes public peace and that it puts special consideration into the country’s economy, in a way that it increases.

Further, the minister has assured that there have not been any contracts between MACL and TMA in regards to the leasing of the terminal, yet.

He added that if the government had not changed, the agreement would have been followed through in turn bringing huge losses to the state income.

Responding to an inquiry by Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla, Ameer stated MACL’s board will follow through the procedure, as it has been ordered by the state. The state reached the decision to lease the new seaplane terminal for a period of two years.

Further, it has been revealed that any individual who paves way for corruption in the leasing of the terminal, will be investigated strictly.

The state reached the decision regarding the matter way before the audit was publicized, added Ameer, who stated that TMA had not been consulted beforehand either.

MACL earlier revealed that the new seaplane terminal will be completed later this year, a total of 18,000 square meters of land has been reclaimed for the project, which is being developed by one of China’s renowned construction companies, Beijing Urban Construction Group for a total of USD 40 million. The new terminal measures three times bigger than the current seaplane terminal. The new terminal measures 28,000 square meters.

The new terminal will add more than 80 seaplane docking platforms and increase the floor area, lounge, and boarding gate by 50%.