PPM Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Riyaz Rasheed has stated that the Parliament will reach to a decision on the President's request to determine if the Maldives should remain as a member of the Commonwealth member, when the Parliament reconvenes.
The issue, first sent to Parliament a year ago, had already been debated once in the Parliament session but a decision had not been arrived at.
Maldives had been placed back on the CMAG's formal agenda, after the body said that Maldives had failed to rectify six issues noted by the Commonwealth. CMAG had warned of measures against Maldives if those issues are not rectified by their meeting in March, 2017.
Speaking to Avas, Vilifushi Constituency MP Riyaz said the issue will be addressed once the Parliament reconvenes. He added that it was expected that the issue will be expedited.
In the Parliament session which debated on the issue, Riyaz said that Commonwealth assistance had not extended beyond a few scholarships provided to Maldivians. In that session Riyaz said the decision to leave the Commonwealth will have minimal negative impact on the Maldives.
In the same session, PPM PG Leader Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said there were no issues in Maldives leaving the Commonwealth. However, he said the size of Maldives and inclusion of the country on CMAG formal agenda, did not warrant serious action against the Maldives.
Hulhuhenveyru Constituency MP and Parliament Deputy Speaker Reeko Moosa Manik said a review must be taken into how much the Commonwealth "interfered" in local affairs. He said if the Commonwealth had sought out to impact the economy, sovereignty and internal affairs, then it must be investigated. However, MDP members of the Parliament had advocated on Maldives remaining in the Commonwealth.
