Parliament Committee To Inquire Into Allegation That Minister Disagrees With EPA Autonomy

The Parliament Committee on Environment and Climate Change has passed a motion to begin an inquiry into allegations that Aminath Shauna, the Environment Minister, had made comments that may be construed as her disagreement with the autonomy of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

MP Mohamed "Wadde" Waheed (Un'goofaaru) had stated that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had pledged to grant the EPA autonomy. The autonomy of the EPA had been included in the government's Strategic Action Plan. Despite this, he had alleged, Environment Minister Shauna has repeatedly made statements that there were no plans to grant the EPA autonomy.

MP Hussain Firushan (Fares-Mathoda) agreed with MP Wadde's motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

Minister Shauna had made said that she, as the Minister, did not exert any undue influence over the EPA, and she stated that she wanted the EPA to be truly autonomous. She had also stated that she believed that it was not right that the Minister could overrule decisions made by the EPA.

MP Wadde had said that while independent institutions existed for different sectors of government, the protection of the environment should be carried out independently and with autonomy. He had said that the EPA should not be an institution that can be manipulated by the political whims of any government.