Deputy Mayor, Mohamed Nareesh says that the Presidential office's Corporate Development Minister, Mohamed Shahid partook in the Male City Council's meeting yesterday in the capacity of a former consultant.
Attending as the former project consultant in the council meeting held yesterday, Shahid had proposed that the projects be transferred to the Construction and Infrastructure Ministry while maintaining the original terms and conditions of the projects.
Out of the 10 members that attended the meeting, all members excluding the Councilor of the West Galolhu Constituency, Nazima Faiz [who abstained from voting] voted in agreement with the motion.
As Shahid attended a Council meeting while managing a position at the Presidential office, he has been directed with much criticism.
In a statement given to Mihaaru addressing the matter, Nareesh has said participation in a meeting in representation of a previous position held and offering insight based on their expertise had been done in the past and stated that such a situation was not at all unusual.
According to Nareesh, Shahid had submitted a proposal which was prepared by the Council, and maintained that it had been submitted prior to the official meeting held last Monday, in adherence to the guidelines.
The first attempts to pass this motion that was endorsed by the council even previously, was begun 3 week ago as per Nareesh. He clarified that the delay of the proposition was the result of some budget calculations that needed to be resolved.
"Shahid attended the meeting at the request of the Council in order to discuss updates on the projects." Said Nareesh.
However, the North Galolhu Constituency's Democrats member, Saif Fathih maintains his disbelief on this justification.
As expressed by him, there is no reason for Shahid to submit a proposal prepared by the City Council. He asserts that an official Council Member is more than capable of submitting a proposition.
Saif stated that massive council projects such as parking buildings, Vilimale' commercial buildings and Vilimale' housing projects were not dependent on the State's PSIP (Public Sector Investment Program) budget. He states that the council had secured the funds for this project through its own means.
Saif questioned whether the relinquishment of these projects was based on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's lack of confidence in the capability of a council where PNC (People's National Congress)/PPM (Progressive Party of Maldives) coalition holds the majority to complete projects initiated by him during his tenure as Mayor.
He highly condemned the participation of former employees as advisers in official council meetings and proclaimed that as per this principle, former Mayor, President Dr Muizzu and former Councilors can also attend these meetings.
The official reason cited for this transfer was to expedite the projects, and the project is to be returned to the City Council if no progress has been made within half a year. However, this return only applies to projects estimated to cost over MVR 100 million.
"I am proposing the relinquishment of these projects to a concerned ministry in order to accelerate the process while sustaining the terms previously agreed by the Council. The ministry in question I am proposing is the Ministry of Infrastructure." Shahid said in yesterday's council meeting.
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