Fomer state minister for health, Akram Kamaluddin insisted on Thursday that the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration did not award flats under its ‘Gedhoruveriya’ housing scheme to couples who had received flats under prior public housing schemes, and accused the incumbent People’s National Congress (PNC) administration of misleading the public.
The ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme is a social housing project run by the former MDP administration. The first 4,000 units under the project were developed 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.
On Sunday, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib told reporters that 976 of the units under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ project were awarded to couples who had received flats under previous public housing schemes, 645 of whom were given scores of 76 points.
At a press briefing on Thursday morning, Akram, who has been pressed with charges of corruption over the allocation of flats under the scheme, said that the MDP administration had adopted a policy of limiting social housing to one per family.
“Muthalib claims that some 900 flats were awarded during our administration. This is a blatant lie. He is completely misleading [the public]. This is what they themselves are doing now,” he said.
Housing units developed by Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) in Hulhumale' Phase II under the 'Gedhoruveriya' housing project. (Sun Photo/Maaniu Mohamed)
Akram said that the original contracts for the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme does not allow for one family to be awarded housing under two different schemes.
He said that couples who submitted separate applications for the same category of flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme were allocated a single unit, while applications submitted by couples for different categories were put on hold.
Akram also denied allegations that applicants who scored below the eligibility criteria were awarded flats.
Last month, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges against Akram and three other former government officials for misuse of authority following an investigation into allegations some of the flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme were awarded to ineligible applicants.
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.
Both the ACC and police are conducting multiple investigations into both the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme and the ‘Binveriya’ scheme – another housing scheme by the MDP administration which saw thousands of people in Male’ getting promised plots from land reclaimed in Hulhumale’, Gulhifalhu, and Giraavaru Falhu.
The PGO has previously said that it will be filing more charges based on evidence as the investigations wrap up.