Male' City Council begins efforts to curb unauthorized commercial activity at fish market

Male' City Council has launched efforts to bring a halt to unauthorized commercial activity being carried out at the Male' Fish Market. 

In a statement issued today, the City Council said that it has come to notice that there are unauthorized shops and warehouses being operated on the first and second floors of the fish market building. 

The announcement instructed these businesses, which will now have a council notice stuck on its premises, to notify the council in writing if they are operating with valid authorization. Such businesses are asked to send a letter with a copy of the agreement. 

Premises in use by businesses which fail to comply will be considered vacant and will be taken under council oversight, the announcement said. It further stated that any property in such premises will be considered unwanted, and will be disposed of as waste. 

While the City Council has begun efforts to halt unauthorized commercial activity at the fish market, Male' Mayor Adam Azim has said that two contracts have been drawn up for the development of the fish market, but that he is unsure which is valid. 

Azim said that the second contract had been entered into during the period the position of Mayor had been vacant after President Dr Mohamed Muizzu resigned from mayorship after winning the presidential election. This second contract was made against the Bid Committee's decision with a company called FJ Design. 

Azim said that while there aren't major issues surrounding the first contract, the second contract is framed in a way that causes loss to the council, and was signed by the council's Legal Officer Ali Naseer. 

The first contract was made for USD 6.1 million, while the second contract cited a value of USD 9.6 million, according to Azim. He said that he is as of yet unaware why there had been a need to enter a second contract.