President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured that the special review committee that is to be compiled to review the list of recipients of flats will be made up of individuals that hold the public's trust.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured that the special review committee that is to be compiled to review the list of recipients of flats under the previous administration's Gedhoruveriya housing scheme will be made up of individuals that hold the public's trust.
Responding to a question at the Ahaa Forum last night, the President revealed that while the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) continues to conduct its investigation into the allocation of these flats, the Housing Ministry still does not have access to the flat allocation portal.h
Due to the failure to gain this access to date, the Ministry does not have details of flat applicants nor does it have details of those the ACC deemed eligible, the President explained.
"To be honest, we want to publicize [the list] after checking it. But we are unable to do even that as [ACC] has not granted access yet," President Muizzu shared.
The President said that the government's decision is to review the flat applicants' list through an independent committee. The committee will be made up people who the public have confidence in. He asserted that he did not wish allocation of flats to be seen as something the government conducted in private.
"A committee will be made of up persons whose words hold weight in front of the public. This committee will then review the list ACC provides after its investigation. When this is done, it will be known without a doubt whether any flat was allocated to anyone ineligible or not," the President affirmed, adding, "That process, too, can only be initiated once we get access to the portal."
Once access is received, the list will be reviewed and those eligible determined, after which the list will be published publicly, the President said.
He added that even though some of the 4000 applicants may turn out to be not eligible for these flats according to the determined prerequisites, he will ensure that they are not permanently deprived of their right to housing. They will, instead, be offered the chance to participate in future housing schemes.
Ahaa Forum is a public forum where the President addresses citizens' concerns and responds directly to questions posed to him by those in the audience. Last night was the first such forum led by the President. 'Ahaa' is a Dhivehi word that can be translated as both ask and listen in English.