City Council notifies MDP that Usfasgandu lease period cannot be extended

The City Council has notified Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that that the lease period of Usfasgandu, used by MDP for political activities, cannot be extended. The lease period expired yesterday.

The City Council was renewing the lease of Usfasgandu to MDP every three months. In anticipation of its expiry yesterday MDP had requested City Council last week to extend the period.

Mayor of Male’ City Maizan Ali Manik told Sun Online that MDP has been informed that the lease period will not be extended, and that the reason for this is a temporary order by Civil Court prohibiting the lease of Usfasgandu to any group after the expiry of its current lease period.

“We have informed MDP that the lease period of Usfasgandu expired yesterday. They had requested to extend the lease before it expired. But the case is ongoing in Civil Court, and it has been decided not to give the land to any group,” he said.

When asked if notice has been given to vacate the area, the Mayor said, “The council has duly sent MDP all necessary notifications.”

Alibe informed that City Council had appealed the Civil Court ruling to the High Court sometime last week, and that Usfasgandu can only be leased after the appeal case proceedings are concluded.

When contacted, senior members of MDP said that they did not want to comment on the matter.

Earlier, the government tried to take over Usfasgandu by involving the Police. The situation heated up some time ago due to quarrels between the government and City Council over Usfasgandu.