GMR agreement is a dangerous piece of deception and dishonesty: MVK Shafeeq

The contractual agreement between the Maldivian Government and the Indian infrastructure giant GMR Group, under which the management of the Ibrahim Nasir Inernational Airport is leased to GMR for 25 years, is a dangerous piece of deception and dishonesty, said Ibrahim “MVK” Shafeeq.

MVK Shafeeq, the CEO and Managing Director of MVK Maldives, is the owner of the first duty-free shops established at the Airport that serves Malé, the Capital of the Maldives and an array of resorts and islands around Malé.

Speaking to Sun today, Shafeeq said that the Maldivian government had made a huge mistake in handing over the management of the Airport to GMR. He also said that the agreement was hopelessly one-sided, and drawn up in such a way that it is hugely advantageous to GMR.

“The Government just rushed into it in order to get their hands on some fast money. The agreement gives GMR a free reign and all possible advantages, and it enables them to dominate everything in the Airport”, said Shafeeq. He also said that the Government was negligent in giving such control over the main gate of the country to a foreign party without sufficient legal protection for local employees, businesses, and the country’s interests.

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is the only Airport in the Maldives that connects the country with the outside world, as all the other airports in the country are domestic ones, with the exception of Addu Gan Airport, which is theoretically an international airport, but for all practical purposes, is similar to any other domestic airport.

Shafeeq described GMR’s virtually unlimited control over the affairs of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport as a danger to the future of Maldivian economy.

GMR has recently given notice to all the duty free shops at the Airport run by Maldivian local companies. According to the notices, the shops are to be closed by the beginning of next year.

Shafeeq’s companies own a number of duty free shops in the Airport and a bonded warehouse, which has also being taken away from them by GMR.

Shafeeq said that about half of his business ventures comprised of the duty free shops in the Airport, and that GMR’s decision to take them would shatter his businesses which are already incurring losses amounting to a million dollar per day. Shafeeq also said that more than 300 of his employees would have to be dismissed.

Shafeeq said that the MVK group would lead a public protest against GMR, which has been announced for tomorrow night, at the artificial beach area. “We will prepare a petition, and anyone can come to the artificial beach where we are holding the protest and sign it”, said Shafeeq. He added that “this is not just my personal problems, it is a national problem”.