Ministry absent in Information Commission's hearing regarding MMPRC

The Information Commissioner’s Office has decided that the Tourism Ministry should hand over the documents regarding the islands leased by MMPRC to the Maldives Trade Union after the Ministry decided not to do so upon being requested.

The Trade Union made the request to the Ministry under the freedom of expression granted to every citizen of the country.

The law states that upon being requested, such information must be divulged as soon as possible and should not take longer than 21 days. The law also states that failure to do so within the 21 days could be seen as a refusal to provide the information.

The Trade Union requested the Ministry to provide information on whether an island or lagoon was leased to MMPRC and whether MMPRC had leased a lagoon or island to any other party. If so, the union requested the lease agreements.

After the Ministry failed to provide an answer within the 21 days, the matter was taken to the Information Commissioner’s Office by the Union.

While the Tourism Ministry officials did not attend the hearing regarding the matter at the Information Commissioner’s Office today, the Commission decided that the documents should be handed over to the Union as requested.

Information Commissioner Hussain Fiyaaz described the absence of the Tourism Ministry at the hearing as a very unprofessional move and stated that the rights of the citizens were not a “plaything”.