The Construction Ministry has said that the land designated for the redevelopment of the Male’ Fish Market must be handed over to the government, even if the existing contract for the project has not been formally terminated.
The "Male’ Wet Market Complex" is slated for construction at the site of the current local market, located across from the fish market. The project was awarded to a contractor in March for MVR 126 million.
However, a contract to develop a wet market at the same location had already been awarded during President Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure as Mayor of Male’. That agreement was valued at MVR 146 million, and the site had already been handed over to the contractor to commence work under those terms.
The Male’ City Council has maintained that the land cannot be handed over until the previous agreement is officially cancelled. In a statement released yesterday, however, the Construction Ministry asserted there are no legal obstacles to terminating the contract and insisted the land can be transferred to the government regardless of the agreement's status.
"Since the company contracted by the Male’ City Council has not performed any physical work beyond the construction of temporary stalls, this Ministry does not believe there is any barrier to terminating that project agreement. Furthermore, we do not believe there is any legal impediment to handing over the land to the government, even if the agreement remains in place," the statement read.
Two separate agreements were made for the fish market redevelopment during Muizzu’s term as Mayor. Following his election to the presidency, which left the mayoral seat vacant, the initial agreement was scrapped and the current contract was signed with a new party.
The subsequent agreement finalized by the City Council was valued at MVR 54 million more than the original contract.
As the dispute over the fish market intensifies, the Construction Ministry has refused to meet with the City Council. This breakdown in communication has led to both institutions trading criticisms through public statements.
The City Council has now requested the Local Government Authority (LGA) to intervene and mediate the ongoing dispute between the two state bodies.
