Cabinet did not approve awarding airport to GMR: Didi

Recently ousted elected President of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Dr Ibrahim Didi has said that several members of the cabinet did not approve of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) being handed over to GMR.

Speaking on DhiTV last night, Dr Didi said that Gasim Ibrahim was Home Minister when the issue was first discussed at a cabinet meeting. Gasim heavily advocated against the idea, which resulted in President Nasheed ceasing to further discuss the issue with the cabinet.

“Gasim was completely against handing over the airport in a manner that would not be of any benefit to the country. When he said this at a meeting one day, the discussion was brought to an end and none of us was allowed to propose any further ideas. Then suddenly we saw the airport being awarded to a group. The cabinet did not approve of awarding the airport to GMR. So the government back then was a dictatorship conducted in the name of democracy,” Dr Didi said.

He said that the three years he was in power, Nasheed used the state assets to focus his efforts on winning a Nobel Prize, and that this should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Also, while he promoted himself to the world as someone who championed environmental issues, he did nothing to resolve the environmental problems faced by the Maldives.

“This is very sad. I think he was playing a role in a movie. Even though he gave speeches in various parts of the world, he was doing so only to promote himself. None of his efforts resulted in any benefit to the Maldives,” Dr Didi said.

As usual, Didi stressed that he will go to court if necessary to fulfil his responsibilities as the elected President of MDP.

“Until my last day, I will take the matter to independent institutions in my efforts to regain my rights. I will do everything possible to prove that certain people in MDP were behind this coup, and that it was illegal. After that, when all doors are closed for me, I will still serve the country politically. I will not stop my services; I will start all over again with new energy. Be it at an individual level, at a societal level, or by joining a party – I will identify what’s best for the Maldives, and keep moving forward. I will make this announcement quite soon,” Dr Didi said.

Dr Didi criticised Nasheed and said that his resignation was a result of his own negligence, and that Nasheed makes political moves which are not practical.