Saturday
4th May 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Arabiyya School
Deputy Ambassador Faisal's Blacklisted Company Responsible For Shoddy Arabiyya School Construction
Faisal with President Solih.
The shoddy construction of the Arabiyya School building had been carried out by LF Construction Pvt Ltd, a company in which Mohamed Faisal, the deputy ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, owns a stake.
Faisal's family-members all own shares in the company. They are:
- Abdul Latheef, Male, No. 3407, (Faisal's father).
- Mohamed Faisal, Lonuveli, Dhevvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu atoll),
- Ahmed Firaq, Lonuveli, Dhevvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu atoll),
- Ibrahim Falah Latheef, Lonuveli, Dhevvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu atoll),
- Ismail Falih Latheef, Lonuveli, Dhevvadhoo (Gaafu Alifu atoll)
In addition, Mariyam Saeeda (Shabunameege, Dhevvadhoo) had also previously owned stakes in the company.
Faisal used to be a member of former President Maumoon's Maldives Reform Movement. Although he holds the post of a deputy ambassador, he spends most of his time on his private business; particularly, with securing government projects for LF Construction Pvt Ltd.
The Ministry of Finance had announced yesterday that the government would no longer accept bids from LF Construction Pvt Ltd. The Ministry had pointed out that although the company had won the bid to construct the Shaviyani Foakaidhoo Community Centre's construction, the project had never been completed.
In addition, Faisal manages Iru Online, a pro-government news-site.
Although large cracks have appeared on the pillars of the Arabiyya School building, and although parents and students feel unsafe in the building, the government maintains that the building is safe to be used as a school. A report released after a visual inspection had recommended that the school be evacuated and that an assessment be conducted to ensure the structural integrity of the building.