Transparency Maldives calls upon govt. to stop influencing Komandoo by-election

Transparency Maldives has called upon the government to stop influencing the upcoming Komandoo parliamentary seat by-election.

In a statement released today, condemning the announcement of the unbudgeted connectivity project of Komandoo, and the inhabited island located next to it, Mathi Komandoo, in conjunction with the Komandoo by-election, Transparency Maldives said that such acts undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

They also stressed that suddenly announcing such a project amidst the election is an abuse of state resources.

Noting that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been publicized on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website regarding the project as of present, they stressed that any report prepared following the announcement cannot adequately reflect the environmental, social and economic implications of the project.

Whereas the project is set to commence on January 14 – Transparency Maldives said the carrying out public consultations regarding the project by Komandoo Council three days prior to commencement of the project shows lack of political will to ensure the meaningful participant and consultation of the public.

Therefore, the organization in its statement has called on the government to;

• Stop abuse of state resources and strengthen the electoral legal framework to include the prohibition of state resources and ensure its effective implementation prior to 2023’s presidential elections.
• Stop the announcement and inauguration of development projects and the abuse of state resources that influence the public and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
• Ensure the meaningful participation and consultation of the public in the development stage of projects and ensure that development projects are planned under a long-term national development plan.
• Ensure there is adequate time to conduct a thorough EIA process that reflects the environmental, social and economic implications and take measures to mitigate the impacts of the development project.

Transparency Maldives also appealed to state authorities including the Anti-Corruption Commission, Maldives Police Service, Attorney General’s Office and the Elections Commission for their coordination in the implantation of the electoral legal framework and hold abusers of state resources accountable.