Ali: Most applicants got dropped from flat list because point scheme changed, documents on children disregarded

Many of the people who made it on the original list of the first 4,000 flats built under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme were later dropped from the revised list released in February because the incumbent administration changed the point scheme in violation of its promise and disregarded documents related to their children, says Ali Hussain, a legal representative from the Fahi Union.

‘Gedhoruveriya’ is a social housing scheme that was launched by the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration. The first 4,000 units under the project was built in Hulhumale’ Phase II by the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC). The MDP administration released the list of recipients of the first 4,000 flats in its last days. However, the list drew the scrutiny of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), following allegations of irregularities and corruption in the award of the flats.

 The corruption watchdog ordered for the suspension of the issuance of flats as it investigated the case, before finally giving the Housing Ministry the go-ahead to proceed in February 2024, after which the Housing Ministry initiated a lengthy review of applications.

The new list was released on Thursday after a verification process that lasted over a year.

As per the original list of recipients, 4,939 applicants were deemed eligible for the flats.

ORIGINAL LIST:

• Total recipients: 4,939
• Two-bedroom flats: 1,218 applicants
• Three-bedroom flats: 3,721 applicants

But following verification, only 1,820 were deemed as rightful recipients.

NEW LIST:

• Total recipients: 1,820
• Two-bedroom flats: 397 applicants
• Three-bedroom flats: 1,423 applicants

In a press conference held by Fahi Union, an organization that advocates for housing rights, Ali said that many people had submitted documents related to their children when they filed applications for the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, as per the original point scheme published by the government.

This includes school, college and university documents of their children to establish they had been living in Male’ continuously for at least 15 years.

Ali said that while the incumbent administration had promised it would not change the point scheme, a review by the Fahi Union shows it was amended.

He said that many people are unaware of this change.

“Many people are not even aware that the incumbent administration changed the [point] scheme publicized by the former administration. Now they will realize they lost their flats because the scheme was amended. That it is because they disregarded the originally submitted documents. You therefore have the right to sue,” he said.

Ali described this as a “great act of deception.”

Ali added that the point scheme was also amended in violation of the recommendations of the Attorney General’s Office, which had advised the government to consider all documents listed in the Gedhoruverin Portal when determining if a person has been living in Male’ for 15 years.

He said that the government has however dropped documents related to children from the criteria.

Ali said the Fahi Union is offering legal aid to applicants who wish to sue the state over the issue.