Mohamed Shainee, the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, has said that the constitutional amendment allowing foreign ownership of Maldivian land will not repealed.
He responded to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's call to repeal the bill, by expressing embarrassment that such a seasoned politician would make remarks that would ‘impoverish’ citizens.
At a program on Friday night on state broadcaster PSM (Public Service Media), Shainee was presented with a question over opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to push a proposal to repeal the 2015 amendment. He added that the opposition is ‘bitter’ over President Abdulla Yameen’s efforts to bring ‘development’.
MDP’s parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the opposition would spearhead the bill in parliament and expressed confidence that MPs would show support for the group. The proposal would need a three-quarter majority vote for it to pass.
The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has 48 seats, its coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has six seats, the MDP has 21 seats, opposition Jumhooree Party and Adhaalath Party has seven and one seat, respectively, and two independent members sit in parliament.
On July 22nd, Maldives’ unicameral parliament voted to amend article 251, which prohibits the foreign ownership of any Maldivian territory, though it can be leased for a period not extending 99 years.
The amendment stipulates that any party or individual that wants to permanently acquire land in the country, must invest a sum of USD 1 billion, reclaim at least 70 percent of the island and this area should be visible at medium tide.
