Yameen accuses govt eyeing to handover Thilafushi to Dubai World

Former President Abdulla Yameen has accused current government was preparing to handover Thilafushi port to Dubai Ports World (Dubai World), claiming it was a major corruption.

Ibrahim Mohamed Nishan, the PNF candidate running for South-Henveiru seat, while speaking at campaign activity on Sunday evening, said this administration launched Thilafushi land reclamation last Wednesday with the aim of handing over Thilafushi Port to Dubai World.

In response to this statement, Yameen, who present in the audience said UAE requested for Thilafushi Port's handover to Dubai World twice in his visits to the country during his presidency.

"Back then I refused to hand the port over. As per calculations, it would have cost us USD 80 million dollars to develop Male' Continental Terminal from the equipment and facilities we required back then," Yameen said.

He argued the port should be retained under Maldivian ownership for two reasons, and added a 50- to 100-year lease to Dubai World would not bring any profit to the Maldives.

"But if all of the vessels travels through the port, then it is a gold mine for us," Yameen commented, arguing his administration refused to handover Thilafushi Port since Maldives had the capacity to operate it.

Secondly, Yameen claimed if the port was developed by Dubai World, it would not become an international one, but rather a 'satellite' sibling to the larger sister port developed by Dubai World in Cochin, India.

Yameen argued a free trade zone similar to that in Dubai would not be possible if Thilafushi Port is given to Emirati group. He further claimed the port can become strong competition to Cochin's port if it was developed by the Maldives.

The former president claimed Dubai World was more interested on its portfolio expansion than significant profitability to the Maldives. Yameen requested the government to take his statements into consideration before opting for a deal.

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) on Wednesday, last week, announced sale of land plots from Thilafushi Phase 2.

HDC announced a total of 108 plots were up for bidding; that include 64 plots measuring between 2,500 to 4,999 square feet; 42 plots between 5,000 to 9,999 square feet; and two massive plots ranging between 10,000 to 14,999 square feet.

The government is developing Thilafushi with the aim of centering the island as an industrial hub in the region.