JP raises issue of exclusion of Transport Minister from Committee for investigating GMR Agreement

Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim has raised the issue of the exclusion of Minister of Transport Dr Ahmed Shamheed from the three-member Committee set up by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, for the investigation of the problems faced due to the Agreement made between the government and GMR, the company responsible for the management of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

Gasim said at a press conference held at JP Office today that he had advised the President that Shamheed should be included in the Committee.

Gasim had also told the President that he would not accept the decision to exclude him, as it would result in humiliation for the Transport Minister.

The President had responded that his reason for excluding Shamheed from the Committee was that Shamheed was ‘a bit too stern’.

Gasim had repeatedly advised the President that it would be wrong not to allow the Transport Minister to express his views on the GMR-Agreement issue.

Following these discussions, the President had agreed to include Shamheed in the Committee.

Sun Online understands that Shamheed has been included in the Committee; however this has not yet been officially announced by the government.

The Committee for the investigation of the issues arising from the Agreement between the government and GMR initially comprised of Attorney General Aishath Azima, Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad and Chairman of Maldives Airports Company Limited Mohamed Saeed.