Fayyaz describes questions regarding BIG as that of a “personal” nature

Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has described the questions directed at him by the Parliament regarding the settlement to Business Image Group (BIG) as questions regarding a “personal matter” and asked whether the Parliament was within its rights to ask such questions.

Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir, this Wednesday, questioned Fayyaz regarding whether he played any role in influencing the settlement to BIG, given that he had been a former shareholder of the company, and given that his family continues to own shares at the company.

In response to Jabir’s questions, Fayyaz said that he did not believe the questions bore any connection to his responsibilities as Minister of Economic Development.

He pointed out that as per the Parliament’s regulations, a Cabinet minister can only be asked questions regarding his/or responsibilities as a minister.

“These questions are regarding a personal matter. So as per the Parliament’s regulations, I cannot be held accountable for this. But I can here because I believe in freedom of dissemination of information,” said Fayyaz.

Fayyaz went on to detail the link between him and BIG.

Fayyaz said that he had been one of the co-shareholders of BIG when it was first established. He said that he sold his shares and resigned from the Board following the challenges he faced given his position as a senior member of MDP when the first MDP administration fell in 2012.

He said that he had not been privy to the internal affairs of BIG since resignation, but was aware his brother and several of his friends continued to own shares at the company.

BIG is co-owned Hassan Ismail – Fayyaz’s brother and by Communications Secretary of President’s Office.

“However, I did not influence the award of the settlement to the company in any way. Nor do I have any influence,” said Fayyaz.

He added that during the presidential campaign of 2018, he and other members of the current administration identified that different companies who faced political retribution from the former administration were owed an estimated USD 2 billion by the State in settlements and compensation.

He said that he advocated producing a policy to make the compensations in a way which minimized the burden on the State.

“Now if that can be taken as influence, then I influenced that. But I have always advocated making compensation payments in a way which minimized the burden as much as possible,” said Fayyaz.

He said that he wasn’t aware if any Director at BIG served as Director at any State company. He said that he wasn’t privy to such information in the execution of his duties as Minister of Economic Development.

HISTORY:

• BIG signed a MVR 5 million marketing contract with MNBC’s subsidiary Television Maldives (TVM) in 2010.

• BIG filed and won a civil lawsuit against MNBC over failure to make the payment in 2016. The Civil Court, in its ruling, ordered MNBC to pay MVR 5 million and an additional MVR 73 million in fines and compensation for failure to make the payment.
• MNBC – now Public Service Media (PSM) – has now paid MVR 30 million of the court mandated MVR 78 million.