President’s Office spokesperson Ibrahim Hood was forced to promise to reveal the cost of the Maldivian entourage that followed President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to the UN General Assembly in New York.
Solih left Maldives on September 21, to participate in the UN Generally Assemble with more than 30 delegates, media reports suggested. The trip would cost more than MVR6 million (USD389,357) according to speculations.
When asked how much the cost of the UN trip was Hood denied to disclose the information even though he was obliged to do so by law.
Hood told reporters that “the president’s office do not disclose information of that sort.”
Hood was later forced to promise to disclose the amount after the NGO Transparency Maldives reminded the executive office that they were compelled to reveal the full costs of the UN trip.
The spokesperson did not deny withholding information. He claimed to be flying but promised to get the information out once he is in office.
“I’m actually flying now and would be happy to disclose more details when back in the office,” he wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile he also rebuffed rumors that President Solih’s entourage was as many as 30. He said the group was less than 15 but did not reveal the exact figure.
