Committee summons AG for failure to implement Archives Act

Parliament’s Government Oversight Committee has summoned Attorney General (AG) Aishath Azima Shakoor and Cabinet Secretary at President’s Office Dr Abdullah Nazeer, for questioning regarding failure to implement the National Archives Act.

The Committee has noted that while the Bill on National Archives was ratified ten months ago, no National Archives Office has been established as required by this Act. Similarly, no Director General or Advisory Board have been appointed.

The National Archives Act stipulates that a National Archives Office must be established to ensure the preservation of official documents, photographs, maps, and records of the State.

Responding to the questions of the Committee Members, Dr Nazeer said that the institution had been established as stipulated in the Act during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration. He said that Nasheed had assigned Transport Ministry to operate this institution, and that it currently employs two people.

He informed that the two employees are previous employees of Tourism Ministry, and that challenges were faced in transferring them to Transport Ministry.

He noted that no budget had been assigned to the National Archives Office.

Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Eesa responded to Nazeer, and said that history and heritage-related departments were previously operated by Tourism Ministry, and that the fact that the new institution formed under the National Archives Act was placed under Transport Ministry, raises questions.

Attorney General Azima Shakoor said that the operation of the institution formed under the Archives Act was assigned to Transport Ministry in accordance with article 6 of the National Archives Act.

At today’s meeting, Azima urged Members of Parliament to consider the challenges faced by the government in establishing the relevant institutions, employing staff and obtaining the budget required, for the implementation of Acts which come into effect.