MVK Maldives is organising a protest against airport developer GMR at 8:30pm on Thursday evening in Male’, following the eviction of the company’s duty free shop from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).
“We are just demonstrating our opinions and dislike of what GMR has done to us and to get public responses,” said MVK CEO Ibrahim Shafeeq.
The protest comes after the High Court upheld an earlier Civil Court ruling that GMR’s termination of its contract with Alpha MVKB Duty-Free was lawful.
The High Court noted that GMR gave notice on March 1 and, as per the agreement, the contract terminated on March 31. As no party could extend the termination notice, the court concluded that MVK had no right to remain at the airport without approval from GMR. Alpha MVKB was originally leased for 10 years under an agreement between MVK and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), with a one month termination clause, the court noted.
On December 4, GMR officials began dismantling a temporary wall outside the Alpha shop and packing up the shop’s contents. Customs officials intervened to oversee the management of the shop goods, which included alcohol products.
Shafeeq claimed that GMR’s actions were “unprofessional”, and he further demanded an apology from Minivan News claiming that its coverage of GMR’s eviction of Alpha MVKB had damaged his reputation.
“What GMR has done is without my permission and without consultation of Customs. They broke into our premises and were stealing our goods and we don’t know where they are now,” he alleged.
“They ransacked the place, we don’t know what they did with the goods, they are under Customs’ purview. We don’t know where the goods are.”
Asked what he hoped to achieve at tomorrow’s protest, Shafeeq replied “Achieve? To get the public opinion on whether we are right, or they are wrong.”
A petition is currently being circulated to register public support for MVK’s cause. The Alpha shop’s General Manager Ahmed Nazim told Haveeru that 30 such papers have been set up outside the MVK office at the Carnival area.
MVK was reported in Haveeru as having provided financial backing to the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Shafeeq confirmed the relationship, but said that the planned protest had no political connotations.
“This is nothing to do with any political party. It’s just with MVK employees and the people who are with MVK, who like us, and will sign a petition.”
MVK currently employs “close to 500 employees in Addu, Fuvahmulah, and Male’,” Shafeeq said.
“We are the major supplier for the Maldives hotel industry,” he claimed, adding that the company did not have plans to open another shop.
Pick up trucks with loudspeakers circled Male’ today calling on aiport employees and their families to join the protest.
GMR said the protest would not impact airport operations.
“We are continuing with business as usual, we have an airport to run and cannot stop our operations for this protest,” a spokesperson said.
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Absolutely astonishing. Assuming a birth right for making money while disregarding signed contracts, how ridiculous does it get? Get real guys, you've made enough money from the people of this country, stop turning them into the laughing stock of the region.
a monopoly dismantled....
Go home GMR!
I wonder how this is going to turn out.
Looks like it will be interesting for onlookers like me.
I have a few questions and I think watching the protest will answer all my questions.
Will Gayyoom and Shuaib be advocating for GMR?
Will we see Duniya on the streets protesting on Thusday with the PPM members?
What will happen to Umar Naseer's airport security contract with GMR if he is out on the streets shouting against GMR?
I think Umar Naseer and Duniya will either "fall sick" or be out of the country on the last minute and "cannot" attend the protest.
GMR and MDP
MVK vs GMR
This would be the second semi- final of Maldives vs India. Let see who wins.
Does the opposing personality matter that much?
Shafeeq is no doubt a clever businessman. He is also not known for reacting to just anything.
The issue to me seems to be a choice between fast-paced modernization and slower socioeconomic benefits.
If GMR were allowed to do anything they want with Male International, then we would see an extremely pretty airport with a lot of popular brand-names in only a few days. However the flip-side is, foreign currency leakage will increase and jobs will be lost for ordinary Maldivians.
If the government truly represented the people and requested GMR to provide some sort of quota for Maldivian businesses and employees, then we might be able to prevent maximum damage to the Maldivian economy in the near-term.
Thank you Eleanor Johnstone for covering this...
Mr shafeeg and the so-called GM knows crap about doing professional business ... They are power and money craving people who are just pissed off due to having to face off with a more POWERFUL party. It's purely a matter of hurt ego. And the way they treat their staff is nothing less than slavery. They deserve to be CUT DOWN TO THEIR SIZE!
@ tsk tsk
"If the government truly represented the people and requested GMR to provide some sort of quota for Maldivian businesses and employees..."
I'm certain they have an employment quota just like every other company does, but why should there be a local business quota? Such populist nonsense is one of the reasons for this country going backward at a rapid pace. Protectionism doesn't work, open market conditions do.
What you want to tell the world by postin unrealistic photo ? Be real ,
This is very interesting. Did GMR terminate the contract with MVK or did they ask them to vacate the shop so that they can provide them with another location?
If they terminated the contract then it is against the concession agreement MACL had with GMR as the concession agreement says that all current contracts had to be honoured by GMR. If this is the case then MVK is in the right.
Go home GMR!
We don't want you.
MVK must understand that there is no agreement between you and GMR and already expired, I dont think MVK must now fight for a place in Airport to do their Business, otherwise we must also have a place in terminal to do business.
MVK got lot of business this current government without Bids, Look in Male' the Bus service they even get from a advisement about Rf60,000 and still ADDU Guest house, but when the agreement is over in Airport Do you think GMR must give a place like other business opportunity that you got recent days.
Wake up the people understand that shafeeq thinks he can do anything and pressure government and ANNi to get a place in airport for him.
You should double check that with Alpha (the UK based company) iru ... and I doubt my father has any strings/influence on the Way Anni thinks search for the Truth Eleanor Johnstone and it will find you 🙂
GMR is a threat for our sovereignty.. They are doing business in the most corrupt style, bribing the govt officials and the opposition by giving attractive projects.
GMR go home now! They should be kicked out before the people start kicking their asses off one by one!
GMR go away! We are fed up of your business tactics. and if you think you can survive like this, u r mistaken!
Iru... I totally agree with you. Today he and his partner in crime ( some one called misery or something like that ) is assuming that they can do whatever they want because they seem to have funded MDP during the election phase. GMR is a far more professional and authentic business group. How could they develop an international airport with left over rotten garbage? That shafeeg and misery or musiry or whatever is on the verge of having a cardiac arrest due to this 🙂
Dear Guys,
Grow up and wake up.. remarks and pointing fingers at people is just bull. if you are so smart, run for presidency then. BIARCH
MVK will lose... End of story!
Does any body know this gentleman mvk or whosoever he is , is making money from selling alcohol?He is the one fleecing Maldivin government and people and not GMR
who came to this country despite warnings from Indian government that this is a country without any ratings.
Maldivinas wake up and learn to undertand what is happening to our country?
Hate, hate and hate, Thats what I see. How know the history of that company? Do you know history at all? Who knows how many nights without sleeping the project took? Who are you, the ones that talk without having moved a leg or a arm to build up something in the Maldives out of effort and hard work? Slavery someone said? who says that? the ones that used to rob while the shop staff was not looking? or the ones that pretending to be good and pure Muslins and come begging to buy drinks from us asking the staff to not tell anyone? Too much hate these days in the country. Right birth to make money? How hard have you worked in your life to say that? How many obstacles have you surpassed in life to know the really meaning of your words? The day you prove to be a honest and hard working person, might listen to you words, until then, look around and learn from life as there is no better university on earth. In the time of the former President, talking would be synonymous of being jailed berried in water up to you belly…. today everybody is free to talk, even to say nonsense. Too much hate around I see.
Unfortunately Mr Antonio there's money and greed in hate sadly many of my Maldivian counterparts have held that buried with in them selves for far too long this has manifested in them all too well.. Some of them take pride in making others supressed ... But I see a ray of hope in a few of the youth and some of the wise and old who are trying extremely hard to maintain the fragile balance of unity here ... Their hype can be used in a beneficial way if applied right ... This is evident as democracy has freed the people's voice but a few have abused it ... Honest business men have failed as the powers above are increasingly seduced by greed ... Some of the pawns below take pride in hurting others this is truth behind the vail of the tranquility ..... Very few remain as vanguards of the future for peace and true justice as hate rules most of their hearts .. It is of great sadness that I say that companies like mvk are targeted singled out and taken apart just so they can entertain their twisted political ideals to inspire hate in hopes of generating fuel ie money .... And thus the freedom they have is abused the result are the pictures and stories and comments with in this very paper which once stood as the hope of the nation is corroded As free voice is abused to build it back is up to us the youth ... Sadly most of us are damaged perhaps beyond repair as is evident on some of the comments above ...
Unfortunately Mr Antonio there's money and greed in hate sadly many of my Maldivian counterparts have held that buried with in them selves for far too long this has manifested in them all too well.. Some of them take pride in making others supressed ... But I see a ray of hope in a few of the youth and some of the wise and old who are trying extremely hard to maintain the fragile balance of unity here ... Their hype can be used in a beneficial way if applied right ... This is evident as democracy has freed the people's voice but a few have abused it ... Honest business men have failed as the powers above are increasingly seduced by greed ... Some of the pawns below take pride in hurting others this is truth behind the vail of the tranquility ..... Very few remain as vanguards of the future for peace and true justice as hate rules most of their hearts .. It is of great sadness that I say that companies like mvk are targeted singled out and taken apart just so they can entertain their twisted political ideals to inspire hate in hopes of generating fuel ie money .... And thus the freedom they have is abused the result are the pictures and stories and comments with in this very paper which once stood as the hope of the nation is corroded As free voice is abused to build it back is up to us the youth ... Sadly most of us are damaged perhaps beyond repair as is evident on some of the comments above ...