Fish market debate stalled as quorum not met

Male' City Council Galolhu North member Mohamed Saif Fathih has stated that the sitting regarding the agreement handover of the Male' Fish Market development project that would've caused a loss of USD 1 million did not move forward.

This occurred after legal officer Ali Naseer attended the sitting for questioning, where the scheduled sitting had not met the quorum even after the third day.

When President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu presided as the Mayor of Male', the Fish Market project was put up for bidding, with it being evaluated and awarded to selected parties at a cost of USD 6.1 million. 

However, after President Muizzu was elected and before current Male' Mayor Adam Azim took the position, the agreement was voided and made with another company. The agreement was made with a cost of USD 9.5 million. 

The new deal, which is USD 3.5 million more than the initial contract, was reportedly signed by Legal Officer Naseer.

Due to this, Saif had issued to Naseer for him to attend the sitting in order to find out what had happened. This was also because the council had not approved the new agreement or any amendments related to it, and that the changes violate the State Finance Act and related regulations, which prohibit unauthorized contract changes and price adjustments.

Even though the accusation was made that it was done in order to give certain parties unfair benefits, the sitting scheduled for 31st August did not move forward due to quorum requirements not being met. 

The agenda of today's sitting had Naseer come forward in order to question him and ascertain what had happened, along with what action was to be taken against him. But the sitting did not occur yet again due to the quorum requirements not being met.

Today's sitting was scheduled due to the Fish Market issue not being on the agenda, with Said sending the Mayor a formal letter.

The letter stated that there were no changes brought to the agreement of the Fish Market development project without council's consent and against the law. The letter also included that the issue had not been put into the agenda for the sitting.

Saif requested that Legal Officer Naseer appear before the council meeting to be questioned regarding the reasons behind the decision, the intended purpose, the procedure followed, and under whose directive the new agreement was signed. 

Saif has also filed a complaint to the ACC.

Last month's City Council sitting had the Mayor announce that the Fish Market project has two contracts and that it is not clear which one is correct.

Even though the first contract does not have that many issues, the second contract was written in such a way that it would be detrimental to the council, said Azim.