By Ajay Makan
August 15, 2007
Prominent politician and businessman Abdullah Jabir has accused the government of rigging a resort bidding process and ignoring high court rulings, as Maldives’ magnates bypass the Tourism Ministry and use newspapers to argue over ownership of the Biyadhoo resort.Biyadhoo was controversially awarded to Sunland, a company part owned by Fisheries Minister Hussain Hilmy, in 2004. The high court and civil court have since ruled that two different bids, including one from Jabir’s Yacht Tours, were rejected unfairly.
Until now the legal battle between Jabir, Hilmy and the Tourism Ministry has been conducted behind closed doors. But claims by resigning Justice Minister Mohamed Jameel that the government planned to compensate Jabir with two resorts, forced the issue into the open.
Last Thursday Tourism Minister Dr Shaugee told journalists, “Decisions made regarding … Biyadhoo have not been modified yet.”
Sunland, infuriated by the implication that their ownership may be “modified” in the future, took out a full page advert in the major Maldivian papers, accusing Shougee of “politically motivated” comments.
The Sunland advert claimed the Tourism Ministry signed a secret agreement with them in May 2005, confirming the company’s permanent ownership of Biyadhoo, despite ongoing legal challenges.
Abdullah Jabir has now heaped further pressure on the Tourism Ministry, by holding a press conference to announce the government has not acted on a High Court ruling requiring them to reevaluate the Biyadhoo bids.
It had previously been reported that the government had appealed against the ruling. But Jabir says not only did the government not appeal, Minister Shougee personally promised him at a German trade fair in March this year, that the Biyadhoo bids would be re-evaluated.
Jabir is adamant, “Biyadhoo was wrongly awarded to Sunland,” and he says this was done “purposefully” by the government.
“Sunland are now running Biyahdoo illegally,” he adds.
But Jabir faces his own accusations of misconduct in the Biyadhoo affair. Jabir quit the government in April and has become a vocal member of the opposition. Former Justice Minister Jameel claimed he was considering taking two resorts from the government and returning to the fold.
“I have never asked for any islands. I just want my bids to properly evaluated, for justice to be served in this case,” Jabir retorts.
“I have never thought of going back to the government for a resort,” he adds.
In the past two weeks, businessmen have used the press to accuse the government of; rigging the bidding process for Biyadhoo; concluding secret deals on its ownership despite legal challenges; and failing to implement a High Court ruling.
But the Tourism Ministry has not made any statement since Dr Shougee’s comments last Thursday. And with Dr Shougee out of the country, the Deputy Tourism Minister Abdullah Hamid declined to comment on Jabir’s press conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment