PNC members today responded to a resolution submitted by South Hulhumalé MP Dr. Ahmed Shamheed requesting the immediate halting of a program the government is preparing to launch to issue long-term visas to foreigners who invest in specific sectors, and to seek information regarding the matter for the Parliament.
Presenting the resolution during today's sitting, Shamheed said that for this government to come into power, the biggest debate of the election was the claim that the Maldivian maritime territory was sold, and that it was clear from that election that the greatest request of the citizens was to protect the land and sea of the Maldives.
Along with that, he alleged that the Pearl Residence Program is a program to hand over authority over several lagoons and islands of the Maldives to a foreign private company.
Responding to Shamheed's resolution, Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) stated that resident visas or corporate visas are already being issued in the Maldives, and that investors who have invested in the Maldives would already possess those visas. As examples of this, he cited the foreign partners of Crown & Champa and the Singaporean businessman Ong Beng Seng, who operates numerous resorts in the Maldives.
"Giving the opportunity to live and travel to the Maldives on any day desired was also done by previous governments, this is not something new happening now," Thoriq said.
Thoriq alleged that Shamheed's resolution was an action taken because the government is preparing to submit a bill to the Parliament to pass the necessary legislation for the Pearl Residence Program.
Dhiggaru MP and former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Nazim stated that the resolution is illogical, as evident from its phrasing. He added that it cannot be determined from the resolution whether this is a program currently ongoing or not.
"According to information we know now, we are talking about a consultant appointed to draft the law required to introduce a program under the name of Pearl Residency," Nazim said.
He stated that this is not an existing program and that the program will begin based on how the Parliament passes it. Nazim also mentioned that it is a very important program to bring in foreign investment.
Baarashu MP Ibrahim Shujaau stated that Shamheed's resolution goes against the thinking of the MDP leadership as well, and that the party's Chairperson, former President Mohamed Nasheed, also supports the Pearl Residence Program.
"The Party's (MDP's) Chairperson is currently the opposition leader, so going against the leader's thinking, I believe this looks more like prioritizing personal interest," Shujaau said.
Shujaau stated that this is not something new being done in the Maldives, and that the program was also conducted in 2015 during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen. Noting that it is a very good program, Shujaau pointed out that Yameen does not oppose the program either.
Shujaau also stated that the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had similarly carried out such a program, and that what previous governments failed to do was market the program.
