DQP sues finance ministry

The opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) filed a civil lawsuit against the finance ministry on Tuesday for failing to respond to a letter requesting information about expenditure.

The party are suing under articles 29 and 61(c) of the constitution, both of which relate to freedom of information except in circumstances where it is declared to be a state secret. 

“It’s the government responsibility. We are a party asking but even if it’s an individual, the government can’t ignore these things,” said DQP Secretary General Abdullah Ameen, adding the party was still awaiting the court’s acceptance notice.

In their letter sent in June, the party asked for information about official state trips abroad by senior officials of the finance ministry, including Finance Minister Ali Hashim and State Minister Ahmed Assad, up until 23 June.

The party questioned whether President Mohamed Nasheed had secured any of the US$359 million he said would be needed by the government in their first three months of power. 

Following his election, Nasheed said he would raise the funds within 20 days of coming to power, the party claimed. The DQP further requested a date by which the full amount would be obtained.
Elsewhere in their letter, the party asked the ministry for details of the employees of Gulhifalhu Industrial Zone, Gan Airports Company and Southern Utilities and their salaries as well as the value of the companies and copies of their regulations. 

Ameen said the DQP had sent letters to all government companies requesting information. “The government is trying to reduce the pay cut and all necessary expenses so before we criticise the government we have to know how much they are spending,” he said.

In August, the government introduced a raft of austerity measures to alleviate the budget deficit. These included a pay cut of up to 20 per cent for all civil servants, sparking controversy among opposition quarters. 
In their letter, the DQP also asked for a list of people who had been given cars by the government and details of their vehicles. 

Ameen said while some ministries had responded to the party’s requests for information, the finance ministry has been “reluctant”.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Assad said, “We will have to be answerable to the courts if the courts decide there’s a case to look into.”

President’s Office Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.

In October, the DQP quit the coalition government and went into opposition, citing the government’s failure to bring about the change promised during last year’s presidential election as the reason.

“There hasn’t been any kind of negotiations or consultations or a policy of mutual advice since we joined the party,” said Dr Mohamed Jameel who was dismissed as minister for civil aviation and communication in May.

The DQP has had a rocky relationship with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party since the start of the government, culminating in the party leader Hassan Saeed’s departure from government on its hundredth day in power.