Gan Council: Points for MP Jeehan's land application awarded fairly

L. Gan Council, on Monday, said the council’s committee had been fair in awarding points to Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood for her application for land from Gan.

Jeehan was on a list of 400 applicants who were confirmed for land in Gan. However, the list released by the council last week shows Jeehan was awarded 10 points as a resident of Gan, despite the fact that she resides in Male’ City.

This led to allegations the lawmaker secured the land through corruption.

Following backlash, Jeehan sent a letter to Gan Council on Saturday relinquishing her claim to the land and asking for her application to be cancelled.

Jeehan said that she had not misused her influence in any way, and wrote to the Gan Council to clarify how she was appointed points as a resident of Gan.

Jeehan, while she resides in Male’ City, is from Lh. Hinnavaru. Her connection to Gan is through her husband and the couple’s two children who are registered residents of Gan.

Gan Council, in a statement on Monday, said that Jeehan was awarded the 10 points as a resident of Gan in accordance with the criteria set by the application evaluation committee.

The council said the criteria for that section was that the applicant be married to a registered resident of the island and be parent to a registered resident of the island.

“Though such parties may reside outside of the island, they will be awarded points as a resident of Gan. As such, points were awarded to all applicants who fit the criteria,” said the council in its statement.

Jeehan received 71 points for her application. She said that she had been she would qualify when she submitted her applications, as she already knew would receive points for being married, having children, having completed higher education, and lacking any private property anywhere in Maldives.

She said she therefore did not have any reason to attempt to secure additional points she did not deserve.

Some 1,400 people had applied for the 400 parcels of land from Gan, marking the first time for land to be issued from the island since 2007.