This Dhivehi language video was aired by local TV station Raajje TV.
During a time where a proposed sale of Faafu Atoll to Saudi Arabia has been spread worldwide, Saudi Embassy in the Maldives has released a statement last Friday, denying those claims saying that it has nothing to do with Saudi Government.The statement released by Saudi Embassy in the
The statement released by Saudi Embassy in the Maldives noted that there have been many media reports during the last few weeks that the Government of Saudi Arabia was planning to purchase an island or an atoll in the Maldives and run mega project projects in the Maldives.Saudi Embassy has denied the claims and mentioned in their statement that Saudi Government will not be investing in such a mega project and that they are not planning on purchasing an island or an atoll of the Maldives.
Saudi Embassy has denied the claims and mentioned in their statement that Saudi Government will not be investing in such a mega project and that they are not planning on purchasing an island or an atoll of the Maldives.The statement ended saying that they are saddened that such rumours are spread without fact checking with the Saudi Embassy.
The statement ended saying that they are saddened that such rumours are spread without fact checking with the Saudi Embassy.
So at this point, it is important to find out how the word has spread through the media regarding mega projects in Faafu Atoll and the atoll’s proposed sale to Saudi Arabia. Faafu Atoll’s mega project talks first officially surfaced during President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s Haa Alifu Hoarafushi island’s sewerage facility inauguration speech made on 23 March 2016.
Faafu Atoll’s mega project talks first officially surfaced during President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s Haa Alifu Hoarafushi island’s sewerage facility inauguration speech made on 23 March 2016.
In his speech, he mentioned a ‘government’ and no matter how many times one goes through that speech one cannot interpret it as a private investor. He also mentioned about the size of the investment and September 2016 as the date when the project will begin.
On 26 January 2017, a date not much later, during the F. Magoodhoo island’s new harbour and mosque inauguration ceremony President Yameen mentioned Faafu Atoll’s mega project in his speech. This was the first time he addressed the topic to the atoll inhabitants.“…I would like to mention in this
“…I would like to mention in this meeting if things go as per plan, Faafu Atoll will become a happy and lucky atoll. The reason why I am saying this is that I am certain that through the two regions Parliament Members you must have heard somewhat about it already what I am trying to tell you. Saudi Government or some seniors of Saudi has shown very special interest to this atoll. They have a big project planned for Faafu Atoll, they have already done the drawings and the charts. We have been expecting the big project in this atoll to start even last year and even now we are waiting for that huge project. From this project, many job opportunities will be created and with that, this atoll is likely to become one of the most developed atolls of the Maldives. It is a powerful big project. This is not a project that our government can carry out with the means that we possess. This will open up for the whole world. It will become such an iconic township or an integrated development comprising of different industries with just a few similar developments existing around the world that people from different areas and travelers can come and make use of it. They have such great plans for Faafu Atoll. We also have good hopes for such. We are always praying to god to grant us these good things to Maldives and due to this to see major developments that we haven’t seen before in Faafu Atoll.”
Even in that speech, we know that the investors are ‘Saudi Government’ or ‘senior officials of the Saudi Government’. There is no major difference in his speech made at Hoarafushi and Magoodhoo island regarding the investors.In his speech made at Magoodhoo island, he said that the drawings and charts have already been done in order to carry out the big powerful projects in Faafu Atoll by the Saudi Government or Saudi Government’s senior officials. They planned to carry out the project last year and even now trying to start the project.
In his speech made at Magoodhoo island, he said that the drawings and charts have already been done in order to carry out the big powerful projects in Faafu Atoll by the Saudi Government or Saudi Government’s senior officials. They planned to carry out the project last year and even now trying to start the project.
Next, we will see the topic of his speech made on 1 March 2017. During his speech made during the acceptance of forms of the newly joined PPM members of Gemanafushi and Maamigili, he said the government is not planning on selling Faafu Atoll. However, that it is a 10 billion dollar project and due to the project, resorts, airports and watersports facilities will become established. The project will bring a big revolution and that details will be revealed after ‘discussions’ are over.
So, in the end, he mentioned that discussions are ongoing. Earlier it was said everything was done and starting date of the project was also decided. There is no consistency in his speech, this is the reason why we should be very worried.The release of the statement from the Saudi Embassy leads to more confusion, and some people started suspecting that the relations having gone bad between the two countries. Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee gave an urgent interview to online news Avas. Perhaps his purpose was to clear doubts and to explain it more.
The release of the statement from the Saudi Embassy leads to more confusion, and some people started suspecting that the relations having gone bad between the two countries. Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Mohamed Shainee gave an urgent interview to online news Avas. Perhaps his purpose was to clear doubts and to explain it more.On 3 March 2017, while referring to Minister Shainee’s interview Avas reported, Minister Shainee said that even from the beginning they have been saying the same thing as mentioned in Saudi Embassy’s statement, that Faafu Atoll project isn’t a project by the Saudi Government and that it is a project that attracted the interest of some ‘Saudi investors’. So it won’t be a project by Saudi King or by the Saudi, Government.
On 3 March 2017, while referring to Minister Shainee’s interview Avas reported, Minister Shainee said that even from the beginning they have been saying the same thing as mentioned in Saudi Embassy’s statement, that Faafu Atoll project isn’t a project by the Saudi Government and that it is a project that attracted the interest of some ‘Saudi investors’. So it won’t be a project by Saudi King or by the Saudi Government.
So what happened to that ‘government’ that President Yameen referred to in his speech at Hoarafushi and Magoodhoo island?
Clearly, Minister Shainee hasn’t been listening to President Yameen’s speeches from the beginning. In his speech at Magoodhoo island, President mentioned Saudi Government or Saudi’s senior officials. Shainee wanted to make it look like it has nothing to do with a government and that they are individual investors. These are the reasons why Maldivians need to worry.When things have come to this point, why wouldn’t this be a perplexing and worrying matter? Maldivians are kept in the dark and not made aware of what’s going to happen to a part of their country.
When things have come to this point, why wouldn’t this be a perplexing and worrying matter? Maldivians are kept in the dark and not made aware of what’s going to happen to a part of their country.In response to that question, President Yameen said that it is not something that we cannot accept and it is not something to worry about. Even when President tells you that, why won’t anyone worry?
In response to that question, President Yameen said that it is not something that we cannot accept and it is not something to worry about. Even when President tells you that, why won’t anyone worry?The said investment amounts to twice the income that Maldives earns annually. As per President Yameen, it is a project which will create many resorts, many airports and many numbers of facilities.
The said investment amounts to twice the income that Maldives earns annually. As per President Yameen, it is a project which will create many resorts, many airports and many numbers of facilities.
- Saudi Government and Maldives Government Minister are saying that it has nothing to do with Saudi Government.
- President Yameen mentioned a ‘government’ or some ‘senior officials’ and that they are coming to Maldives because they love the country.
- Minister Shainee said that it has nothing to do with the Saudi King.
- President says it something to do with ‘senior officials’ of Saudi.
- Minister Shainee said that they are ‘investors’.
So, in the end, it looks like it is not between Saudi Government and Maldives Government, which is even worse. In that case, that means that at the end of the deal there are private individuals. So why are they doing a deal with a private party and so secretively in the dark?
President Yameen said the project will begin last September. Drawings charts and everything is done. Now he is saying discussions are still ongoing. So it is unclear what he is saying. This is the reason why Maldivians are worried.
What we know is that to develop several resorts and airports, one island won’t be enough. On the other hand for such a massive investment there would certainly be a huge guarantee. So what kind of guarantee are the government giving to these investors? They won’t definitely make such a big investment expecting a return within few years. So for how long will, they lease?
As per President Yameen, we need not sell any place. This is what few Maldivians like us cannot fathom.
Even President Yameen has said himself that investors won’t just come with a 100 million dollars, 500 million dollars or 10 billion dollar investment, special legal arrangements are made for investors for that reason. So what are these special privileges? Why shouldn’t we worry? We don’t know how and to whom these projects are given.While parts of the Maldives are stacked up and secret deals are being done, if Maldivians are not worried about what’s going to happen to their country, to their atoll, and to their island, it is a problem. This is really something Maldivians will extremely be distraught about.
While parts of the Maldives are stacked up and secret deals are being done, if Maldivians are not worried about what’s going to happen to their country, to their atoll, and to their island, it is a problem. This is really something Maldivians will extremely be distraught about.
