Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has confirmed plans to develop a tourist resort on the island of Thanburudhoo, currently being used by the military for training and recreational purposes.
The confirmation comes just a week following the registration of the MNDF Welfare Company, created in a bid to generate income to fund welfare services for the armed forces by investing in various businesses, including the tourism sector.
Speaking to Minivan News on Sunday, Lieutenant Abdullah Ali explained that the MNDF is not going to play any direct role in the development of the resort, and that the island would be leased to a third party.
He claimed that the concept of developing the training island as a tourist resort was approved by the former government in 2010, but that work had stalled “for various reasons”.
“However, we have started that process again, and the discussions are continuing,” Lieutenant Ali said.
He also added that the MNDF Welfare Company is “going to be involved” in the project.
“MNDF Welfare Company is going to do tourism, real estate and other potentially lucrative businesses in the future. Our aim is to help reduce state expenditure by self-generating revenue to fund welfare services of the defense force.” Ali observed.
Former Tourism Minister Dr. Mariyam Zulfa confirmed to Minivan News that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government endorsed the Thanburudhoo project back in 2010, but said the President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration had never decided to involve the Defense Ministry or MNDF’ in the project.
“MDP believes in a center right system where the government has little or no control over the economy and promote privatisation. Defense Ministry or MNDF – whichever name u call it – it is still the government. So we would of course never support them to be involved in the project.” Zulfa observed.
She added: “As you know during Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom several uninhabited islands were given to various ministries. So the only reason Defense Ministry’s name appeared in the documents was because the island was registered under the ministry.”
Dr. Zulfa stated that the proposal was initially submitted by individual named Dr Gunnar Lee-Miller, who proposed to develop Thanburudhoo as a surfing resort. The nearby waters host beautiful dive sites and a popular surf-break, which attract many local and foreign surfers.
“We though it was a good proposal and supported it at the time, but the lease transfer was not signed,” Former Tourism Minister contended. “However, I don’t have any details of what happened with the project, following the MDP’s ousting from power on February 7.”
Minivan News contacted Gunnar Lee-Miller seeking to verify whether he was still negotiating with the authorities to secure the island, however Lee-Miller said that it was “not a good time” and hung up the phone. Further attempts to seek comment were met with no response.
Lee-Miller is identified as the President of Telos Investment, a private investment holding firm based in Singapore. The firm is leading the Five Islands project, which involves the development of three integrated resorts over five islands and nine square kilometres of lagoon in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The project was contracted to the company under former government’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CRS) scheme, in return for establishing high-end sporting facilities in the country.
A speaker profile for Lee-Miller on the website of the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) states that the developer “was recently appointed Senior Advisor to the Maldives National Sports Council assisting in all national sport and sport tourism development projects.”
Surfer controversy
Several local surfers have meanwhile raised concerns on social networks, claiming that the Thamburudhoo project involved dredging and reclaiming the surrounding area of the island reef, which would destroy the popular surfing spot.
Banzai Bongo, a well-known local surfer, wrote on Facebook: “This is going to affect the natural current flow of the surrounding waves such as Jailbreaks, Honkies, Sultans and Pasta. Moreover, it will destroy dive spots around this area. So the government’s best interest is to annihilate our natural resources which includes world class surf sites and dive sites.”
Bongo called for surfers to “save these waves like we all stood against the state and saved the Trestles. Save it for or children, save it for the future.”
The Maldivian Surfing Association (MSA) said it would be issuing an official statement.
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Good initiative.
President nasheed is criticized for approving resort projects through the National Planning Council and Anti Corruption Commission stated that it is planning to investigate the NPC approved project soon after government flipped because those projects were awarded without a tender.
NOW, we see a corporatized entity under Ministry of finance and Defense cutting a deal for a tourism resort without a tender directly with a foreigner who has absolutely NO history in tourism!!!
If someone with the right frame of mind looks at the website of Gunnar Lee Miller http://www.fiveislandsmaldives.com/
they would know that this is no big corporate with money behind them. This is just one of those dealers who is trying to make something happen after they get a contract from government.
WHERE IS ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION WHEN DAY LIGHT ROBBERY IS TAKING PLACE.
THIS PROJECT WAS AWARDED WITHOUT TENDER AND WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT PAYMENT IN ADVANCE TO GOVERNMENT.
IT IS CLEAR THAT DEFENSE WANTED THIS DEAL TO GO THROUGH FOR GUNNAR-LEE MILLER.
HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS DEAL AND PLENTY OF ROOM FOR FOUL PLAY!
I CALL UPON THE INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UPTO THIS RESORT BEING GIVEN TO GUNNAR LEE MILLER WITHOUT A TENDER AND WHETHER THE TERMS OF THESE AGREEMENTS REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR THE WELFARE OF THE DEFENSE AND NOT THE WELFARE OF THOSE WHO MAY GET A HEFTY CUT OR SHARE IN THIS RESORT.
It is a no brainer to raise finance for this project.
Thunburudhoo is only 10 minutes away from the International Airport.
The moment Gunnar Lee Miller gets a tourism lease, he need not invest a dime, he can have 10 people lining up to give him a deal on the island!
THIS IS DAY LIGHT ROBBERY!
Who is this Banzai Bongo? Never heard of em.
So MNDF is going to be independent of state finance in future?
Pros: MNDF is less pronone influence of big business or politics..
Cons: Possibly a atate within a state accountable to no one.
Since when have the needs of local surfers even come close to the need of imported USD?
this will have negative impact on number of travelers visiting Maldives. this region is famous for its surf breaks and we increase in demand has increases number of surfers visiting.this is proven as local surf tour operators and surf live-aboard has dramatically increased.moreover the region near Thanburudhoo is a marine protected region, and dredging will affect the waves of the region .http://goo.gl/JlV8Y
This is not right and should be rightly condemned by minority parties active in the Maldives.
Although the major parties, PPM and MDP would no doubt support this move as long as either holds the reins.
This is not at all astonishing!
Thamburudhoo found by a lone surfer who accidentally surfed into this country in the 70's remained all his until it was impossible to be brought into today's limelight!
It is a pity to see it being used for this kind of gimmick!
It is no doubt SINGAPORE parties are a lot involved in resort businesses in the Maldives!
Now MNDF is taken under the umbrella!
މިއީ ހުރިހާ ރައްޔިތުން ހަނާވަނީއޭ ކިޔާފައި އެރި މީހުން. އަރައިގެން ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ހިލޭ ލިބޭ ހުރިހާ ޚިދުމަތެއް ހުއްޓާލީ. އާސަންދަ ކަފުންކޮށް ވަޅުލީ. 24 ގަޑިއިރުން ބޭރުކުރަން ބުނި ޖީއެމްއާރުން ލާރި ނަގައިގެން މުސާރަދެނީ. އިތުރު އެތަކެއް ޓެކްސް ތަކެއް ނެގުމަށް ނިންމައިފި. ހުރިހާ ބަޖެޓަކުން %15 އުނިކޮއްފި. އިތުރުގަޑީގެ ފައިސާ ކަނޑައިފި. ރަމަޟާން މަހުގެ ޢިނާޔަތް ވެސް ދިނީ ބޮޑުންނަށް ގިނައިން. ކޮންމެ މިނިސްޓަރަކަށް ޢިނާޔަތަށް 25،000 ރުފިޔާ. އެކަމަކު އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ނިކަމެތިންނަށް 1800 ރުފިޔާ. މިއީތޯ ތިޔަ ގެނެސްދިން ވެރިކަމަކީ؟ ރާއްޖެތެރޭގެ ރަށްތަކުގައި ހިންގާ ހުރިހާ ޕްރޮޖެކްޓްތަކެއް ހުއްޓިއްޖެ. ހަމަހަމަކަމާއި އިންސާފެއްނެތް. ހިތާނުވާ މީހެއް ވެއްޖެއްޔާ ފުލުހުންނާއި ސިފައިން ފޮނުވައިގެން ހައްޔަރުކުރަނީ. މުގުރުންޖަހަން މުގުރު މަޅާލީމައި ދުވެ ފިލީމާ އެމީހަކަށް މި އަންނަނީ ފުލުހުންގެ ވާޖިބަށް ހުރަސްއެޅުމުގެ ދަޢުވާ. ވާޖިބަކީ މުގުރުން ޖަހައި ޢާންުމު މީހާގެ ބޯފަޅާލައި ކަށިތައް ބިންދުންތޯ މިއީ އުފެދޭ ސުވާލެއް!!
I am surprised that the former Tourism Minister was not aware of more details.
This project was very much a MNDF project, the island was basically being sold for USD 5 Million for 50 years with a condition to extend to 99 years if there is change in the law. The difference was the JV Company was with the Ministry of Finance, but the funds were to be used by MNDF.
The State;s additional foretasted income was USD 538,000/- in GST and Taxes.
Details of the proposal are available here http://www.maldivesbulletin.com/img/pdf/Army%20proposal.pdf
I don't see why mndf needs to seek foreign investment of $5m to develop couple of buildings in girifushi. This could clearly be done within the defence budget.
And the acquisition cost of $5m for a 50 year lease of an island the size of thanburudhoo in kaafu atoll within mere minutes from the airport is absolutely absurd!
Many investors have paid way much more in advance rental for resort leases for only 25 years.
This is really day light robbery.
This development would be a tragedy indeed. The natural beauty and attractions of the Maldives are fast being over developed to make way for upper crust resorts that will only benefit a small minority group. Rumours are circulating that 2 of the natural wonders of the Maldives; surfbreaks nicknamed Sultans & Honkies will become EXCLUSIVE to the resort if developed. There will be public outcry by a passionate group of Maldivian surfers and international surfers at large who flock to the Maldives to surf these national natural icons. In the long run tourism in general will suffer as a result and resort and safari boat operators in the Nth Male atoll will lose business as many travelling surfers will chose another country for their surfing vacation. Surf tourism generates millions of dollars each year however the Maldivian government will shoot themselves in the foot by offering island leases that include the house reef's that in this case host world class surf breaks.
Let's not let money get in the way of making sensible decisions for the long term betterment of a wonderful nation.
Hopefully someone in power will come to their senses on this issue.
Nazim!
Bongo is passionate Maldivian surfer who's traveled extensively. He is up to date on world "surf" affairs and clear-sighted as to where this is heading.. History has unfortunately shown us too many times already that the chance of short-term profit overrules long-term sustainability and steady revenue. Here is a perfect chance for the MAldives to serve as a role model, a lighthouse in the dark by saying NO to this project..
One needs not be a rocket science to put 2+2 together by looking at how the number of safari boats have been spreading like wildfire over the last 10 years... Surely someone in Government must be sitting on numbers such as:
- Licensed Safari boat operations
- Days of operation and number of guests
- How many of those guests were surfers, etc etc..
And IF Thanburudhoo should fall into private hands,
one can only imagine how many Safari boats will run out of business, thus causing hundreds, if not thousands of jobs going lost... Did anyone in the Tourism Ministry think about that??
wtf is this shit man