Issues related to agreement with GMR will be sent to Parliament: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that some issues pertaining to the agreement made between the government and GMR are related also to the Parliament, as such, these issues will be sent to Parliament when it reopens.

Speaking to the media after the opening ceremony of the Civil Air Navigation Services (CANSO) Asia-Pacific Conference held this morning at Kurumba Maldives, the President said that the government is in discussion with GMR to make the necessary revisions to the agreement, but these revisions must follow Parliament decisions.

“The issues will be sent to Parliament as soon as it reopens. The Parliament needs to make certain decisions before we can continue,” the President said.

He noted that he does not believe that GMR can charge ADC of $25 currently, before completing certain legal requirements. He expressed confidence that the current discussions will resolve the issue of ADC being deducted.

“The government is currently in discussion with them, I am hoping to find a solution to the issue of ADC being deducted fairly soon. The best way to solve problems is by dialogue,” he said.

GMR paid only $525,355 to the government as concession fee, when they owe $8.7m for the first quarter of 2012. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) said yesterday that GMR had been sent letters repeatedly to inform that no money should be deducted from the concession fee, however received no response from GMR so far.

The President said that the government is monitoring whether GMR is developing the airport as per the agreement, and hopes that GMR will respect the agreement and develop the airport as contracted.

The airport was leased to GMR for a period of 25 years in 2010. For GMR, Male’ airport is the most profitable, with revenue for the last quarter being $49.1m and profit being $4.6m.