Islands can be reclaimed if lease terms are violated: AG Usham

Attorney General Ahmed Usham has stated that the government can terminate lease agreements for lagoons and islands if lessees fail to carry out work as stipulated in the agreement.

Speaking at the Ahaa Forum aired on PSM, Agriculture Minister Mariyam Mariya was asked about the government’s decision not to renew the lease of Uhdhoo and to cancel the lease of Minaavaru. She said both actions were taken on the advice of the Attorney General.

Usham said that many islands and lagoons leased not only for agriculture but also for tourism and other purposes are not being utilized as agreed. He said the government is reviewing all such cases and will not show favoritism.

“We are seeing instances where leased sites are being misused or left idle. If an agreement is violated, the government has the authority to cancel the lease,” he said.

According to Usham, Uhdhoo was leased to Sun Travels for 25 years. While the lease expired, the government opted not to renew it. In Minaavaru’s case, the lease was terminated after notice and completion of all necessary legal procedures.

He said that both islands were originally leased through separate proposals submitted by Sun Travels, but government surveys revealed non-compliance with the agreed terms.

However, in a post on X, Mohamed Abbas, deputy leader of Siyam’s Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), criticized the government’s move and claimed there were still eight years remaining on the 25-year contract. He also said the lease was being revoked without compensation.

Siyam’s MDA had been part of the governing coalition in the past, but President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said at a press conference on Saturday that the party is no longer part of the coalition.