The All-Party British Maldives Parliamentary Group (APPG) has supported the decision of the Maldives on declaring that parliamentarians lose seats on defection, dismissal or resignation from the party.
The Supreme Court verdict came on Thursday, following a constitutional matter to Supreme Court by the Attorney General as public interest litigation in reference to Articles 30, 74, and 75 of the constitution. The verdict was reached by the consensus of the Supreme Court bench.
In an interview with PSM News, Non-Resident Ambassador for United Kingdom Ahmed Shiaan stated that All-Party British Maldives Parliamentary Group revealed their support to the Supreme Court's decision. The All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group convened on Tuesday for their reconstitution meeting. At the meeting, the group's chairman, Sir David Amess expressed his delight to welcome his parliamentary colleagues as well as Ambassador Shiaan to the meeting.
Following the election of officers, including two new Vice-Chairs, the Group proceeded to discuss the current affairs in the Maldives. The Group also expressed its concerns on the recent news of allegations of bribes being paid to members of parliament to change political parties, According to ambassador Shiaan. The parliamentary group urged both international and domestic actors to respect the sovereignty and constitutional institutions of the Maldives and to allow the Supreme Court to address and resolve any constitutional matters. The Group also expressed its willingness to help and assist the Maldivian Parliament to overcome such challenges and discussed an upcoming official visitation to the Maldives.
Ambassador Shiaan in his statement to the parliamentary group touched upon a number of key achievements of the current administration.
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“These included major investments from 2016, which alone over the next five years are predicted to attract upward of 1.48 billion U.S. dollars; creation of over 64,000 jobs; positive credit ratings given by Fitch and Moody's; and the success of selling sovereign bonds for the first time. On the social sphere, Maldives has been commended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for achievements in the health sector and the ratification of the Gender Equality Bill, which guarantees equal pay for both genders,” Ambassador Shiaan said.
Moreover, to improve services for citizens of the Maldives, water and sewerage systems have been established in several islands to provide residents with basic amenities that they previously did not have access to, the Ambassador highlighted. The ambassador also noted that the Maldivian government has implemented and improved health facilities in islands, to include a pharmacy, in all 188 inhabited islands in the country, and a network of sea-ambulances to ensure that citizens are able to receive faster medical attention when necessary.
To conclude the meeting, all of those in attendance at the APPG meeting acknowledged these positive economic and social strides made by the government and congratulated President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Members reaffirmed their support and commitment to the government of Maldives and agreed to strategize ways in which to further strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and Maldives, especially to develop trading ties.
The parliamentary group for Maldives is a cross-party parliamentary group that works to strengthen and further fortify bilateral relations between the two countries.