Published analysis
Read the full article on Maldives News: Malé’s 19 million: council says August salaries will be difficult
Standfirst. The Finance Ministry withheld all but MVR 285,734 of the capital’s August block grant over funds allegedly diverted to WAMCO.
Key facts
- Finance Minister Hassan Zareer withheld MVR 19,000,000 of Malé City Council’s MVR 19,285,734 August block grant, leaving the council MVR 285,734 to run the capital for the month, per the council’s letter reported by Adhadhu on the evening of 20 August.
- The ministry says the sum offsets money the council allegedly diverted to WAMCO; that is an allegation, not an established finding.
- The council wrote that if the MVR 19m is deducted it “will be difficult” to pay August staff salaries and allowances and meet running costs, and asked for consultations; Malé holds roughly 42 percent of the country’s population.
- It is the second council-government confrontation inside a week: on 19 August the council demanded the government stop signing project agreements on council-managed land without consultation, citing the Villimalé coastal protection and dinghy jetty works and the West Park fishing platform, both handed to MTCC.
- A correction on 22 August softened the original wording from “cannot pay” salaries to “will be difficult” to pay.