Parliament Rejects Resolution Calling for Disclosure of Eagle Hills Agreement Details

The People’s Majlis has rejected a resolution calling on the Maldivian government to disclose the full details of its agreement with Eagle Hills, the company slated to undertake a project named “Waterfront Marina” in Ras Malé.

The resolution, which urged the government to make public all terms of the Commercial Terms Agreement signed with Eagle Hills, was submitted to parliament by Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem.

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The motion was rejected by a vote of 45 members, with only 10 members voting in favour of accepting it for debate.

During the debate on the resolution, lawmakers from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) defended the broader Ras Malé project.

 However, they did not address whether the agreement executed between the government and Eagle Hills ought to be disclosed, nor did they outline grounds justifying why it should remain confidential.

The resolution, submitted to the People’s Majlis by opposition MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, called for full transparency, raising severe concerns over transferring publicly funded land without collecting an acquisition fee or rent, granting a 99-year tenure, and permitting the developer to issue perpetual or refreshed subleases to third-party buyers.

The motion further questioned whether the lease arrangement complies with constitutional provisions restricting the transfer or long-term alienation of Maldivian sovereign territory to foreign entities.

The rejection comes amid separate moves to curb floor debates on such motions. An amendment to the Standing Orders of the People’s Majlis has been submitted by independent MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakur (Thulhaadhoo), seeking to mandate a floor vote on resolutions before any general debate can take place.

Under the proposed amendment to Article 191 of the Standing Orders, the Majlis must hold an initial vote to accept or dismiss a resolution prior to opening preliminary floor debates. If the acceptance vote fails, the resolution is automatically voided without discussion.

“If a resolution passes the acceptance vote, it will proceed to the relevant committee following preliminary debate. If it fails to pass the acceptance vote, the resolution becomes void, and no further debate will take place on the matter,” the amendment states.

Under current parliamentary procedure, when an MP introduces a resolution to highlight pressing public concerns, a vote on its acceptance is conducted only after preliminary floor debate concludes.

 If enacted, the proposed procedural revision would set a significant procedural barrier, limiting the ability of minority and independent lawmakers to raise and debate contentious public policy matters on the parliamentary floor.