Committee decides to back China free trade deal in 10 minutes!

The National Security Committee of People’s Majlis – charged with evaluating the Cabinet’s decision to establish a free trade agreement between Maldives and China – made the decision to back the agreement in just 10 minutes.

The meeting held by the committee this Wednesday took just 10 minutes. The agreement was backed with the vote of the government coalition – parliamentarians from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

The only opposition parliamentarian to attend the committee meeting was Keyodhoo MP Moosa Nizar Ibrahim.

Nizar reported to “Sun” that the committee spent just 10 minutes to evaluate the agreement. And that committee members were not provided a copy of the agreement.

Nizar said though the Minister of Economic Development, Mohamed Saeed attended the committee meeting to provide information on the agreement, the minister provided no details regarding the agreement and all his answers were very “general”.

The government’s decision to fast-track the free trade agreement between Maldives and China has been criticized by the opposition.

In response to the criticism and questions over the government’s motives, deputy leader of PPM’s parliamentary group, Vilifushi MP Riyaz Rasheed conceded the government wanted to expedite the free trade agreement and pass the agreement before the Majlis went into recess.

“They are right. We are fast-tracking it because we want this done as the Majlis is due to go on recess,” said Riyaz.

“Sun” called the Chair of the National Security Committee, Ibrahim Riza for a comment regarding the committee meeting. Riza declined to make a comment and said he was busy at the moment.

The Cabinet voted to go ahead with the free trade agreement this Wednesday, and held a press conference at the President’s Office to announce the decision, a short while later.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Saeed said all benefit of the free trade agreement with China will go to Maldives.

He also said it would be the first time for a large economic superpower such as China to make a free trade agreement with a small economy such as Maldives.

Meanwhile, North Henveyru MP Abdulla Shahid has expressed concern over the lack of opportunity provided to parliamentarians for proper evaluation of the more than 1,000 page free trade agreement.