MBC given a week to solve financial difficulties

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has given Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) one week to hold discussions with Finance Ministry and resolve its current financial crisis.

Members of the Committee discussed at today’s meeting, the request filed by MBC for ways to solve the problem of lack of finance to settle bills for October, November and December 2012.

All Committee members agreed on the importance of public broadcasting, and said that finance should be provided for the Commission to settle its expenses.

However members disagreed about permitting Finance Ministry to release funds as requested by MBC, without investigating the matter further.

Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir said that there are several problems associated with MBC, and that it would not be advisable to release the funds without investigating those problems.

Bilaydhoo MP Ahmed Hamza proposed that MBC should be allowed a period of one week to hold discussions with Finance Ministry on obtaining finance for this year’s expenses. He also suggested that the Commission presents a plan to reduce costs.

Mulaku MP Abdullah Yameen said that he does not object to releasing money to MBC; however, he stressed that the Commission should present reports of how it spent its money in the past and how it plans to utilise the money provided in the future.

Committee Chairperson Alifushi MP Ali Nashiz decided after the discussion to request the Auditor General to conduct an audit of MBC, and to allow MBC until 31 October to inform the Committee the result of its discussions with Finance Ministry.

“If they are not able to resolve the issues through discussion, we will summon them to the Committee. The Committee will then decide on ways to release these funds,” he said.

Financial reports shared by Committee members show that MBC had requested for MVR16.4 million per month, which results in a total of MVR44.8 million for three months.

MBC’s unpaid electricity bills for five months amount to MVR7.1 million, as a result of which State Electric Company (STELCO) has attempted to cut off the Commission’s electricity. STELCO has also said that most services are provided to MBC on credit.