An amendment bill to reduce the payment period for lease extensions of islands, lagoons and lands leased for resort development from two years to six months has been approved by the Parliament within three days.
The amendment to the Tourism Act, proposed by Dhangethi MP Abdulla Rasheed on behalf of the government, only changes the provisions related to extending the lease period.
The first reading of the bill was heard on August 13. The Parliament usually do not hold sittings on Thursday, but a sitting was held today (August 15) to work on the bill.
The preliminary debate started at 9:00 am and lasted for about one and a half hours. The bill was accepted by the votes of 75 MPs.
After the vote, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla opened for the Committee of the Whole House to deliberate on the bill.
Funadhoo MP Ahmed Mamdhooh, who got the opportunity to speak first, proposed to pass the bill without further deliberations.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary group leader Hithadhoo Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Nazil expressed concern over hastening the work on the bill.
"We are seeing the whole bill being completed very quickly. Is this the best way to do it right now? Chair, what is its purpose, what will be achieved?" he questioned.
The Committee of the Whole House passed the bill with 76 votes in favour, including the votes from government MPs and MDP MPs.
