PPM seeks extraordinary sitting to push revenue bills

The governing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is seeking to hold an extraordinary sitting of the parliament to pass the bills that will generate revenue for the government.

The party has asked the parliament to amend the Tourism Act in order to continue collecting the bed tax, that has ceased starting January 2014. The party has also asked for an amendment to the Goods and Services Tax Act.

Deputy leader of PPM’s parliamentary group MP Moosa Zameer told Sun that the revenue bills are crucial for the government.

A total of 26 MPs have to sign for parliament to convene during recess. MP Moosa Zameer said the party is now working to gather signatures from the government coalition partner Jumhoory Party. All PPM MPs have already signed the invocation, he said.

“All PPM members have signed the request. We are now trying to gather support from Jumhoory Party members. Then we can submit the request to the Parliament Speaker. But JP members have not signed yet,” MP Moosa Zameer said.

Parliament went into a two-month recess starting 30 December and is scheduled to reconvene in March 2014 for its final session, which will end on 30 April 2014. According to regulation, the Speaker is required to hold a sitting within 14 days of receiving a motion for an extraordinary sitting.