Land for housing to every Maldivian

23 October 2007

Report: Soodh

Member of the Special Majlis for Addu Atoll Husnu Al Suood has proposed an amendment to article 8, which proposes the allocation of land to every citizen for housing.

Article 8 of the Bill on Rights and Freedom deals with Economic and Social Rights of the people. Husnu Al Suood proposes to cancel Clause B of the Article and instead include another Clause which would give the Right of access to land for housing to every citizen.

Article 8 comprises of 5 Clauses which provides the citizen’s with certain essential economic and social rights. They include the right of access to adequate and nutritious food and clean water; the right of access to adequate clothing and housing; the right of access to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment; the right of access to high standard of health care, physical and mental; the right of access to means of transport, state media, transportation facilities and the natural resources of the country.

Suood’s amendment says that ever citizen shall have the right of access to land for construction of house for him and his family to live in where ever he resides.

During the debate time many members supported Suood’s amendment. Members say that the issue of housing is an issue that needs to be addressed. Members pointed out that while there are many islands which have adequate land for housing government still employs a policy of giving preference to selective citizens.

Deputy Speaker of the Special Majlis, Shaheen Hameed and the Chairmen of the Drafting Committee Ibrahim Ismail both disagree. They say that even it may be included as part of the Article 8, the constitution cannot guarantee the right, considering the growth rate of the population and the limited land available and hence would not be practical. Ibrahim Ismail defended the draft and said that instead having the right of access to land, the right of access to housing is not only more practical but makes more sense.

Even after a lot of discussions members failed to achieve consensus on the Article with and without the amendments. The Chair of the Majlis then instructed the Chairmen of the Drafting Committee to submit a redraft. The Chair did not ask for vote on the specific Clauses of the Article.

A Sitting of the Special Majlis was also held on 21 October. At the Sitting Article 6 and 7 of the Bill on Rights and Freedom was passed. Article 6 deals with the Right to life which says everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person, and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the fundamental principles of justice. Article 7 deals with the Protection of the Environment which says the state has a fundamental duty to protect and preserve the natural environment, biodiversity, resources and the beauty of the country for the present and future generation; the state shall take measures to prevent pollution and ecological degradation, foster conservation, and promote desirable economic and social goals only through ecologically balanced sustainable development.

Article 7 was passed as proposed by the drafting committee although Article 6 was passed with amendment proposed by Dr. Hussain Rasheed Member for Thaa Atoll.