CSC and finance ministry hold talks to resolve salary dispute

After months of trading blows in the media, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the finance ministry met this morning to discuss the restoration of civil servants’ salaries.

However neither party would reveal what was discussed in the meeting, saying only that the issue remained undecided and another meeting would be held.

”We do not want to comment on this yet,” said Mohamed Fahmy Hassan, a CSC member who has advocated discussions between the CSC and the ministry.

State Minister for Finance Ahmed Assad also refused to reveal what was raised in the meeting, but said was expecting the discussions to lead to a solution.

Both Assad and the finance controller from the finance ministry were present at the meeting.

In response to the silence, spokesman for the Maldivian Civil Servants Association (MCSA) Abdulla Waheed said he was convinced the discussions would not lead to a “beneficial” solution and that the finance ministry was simply seeking to extend the period of reduced salaries.

”The CSC might agree to keep the salary lowered till the parliament re-opens,” Waheed predicted, threatening a law suit against the CSC if the outcome of the discussions was deemed “an injustice”.

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President Nasheed returns home after overseas trip

President Nasheed has returned to Male’ after concluding his trip to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and India.

The president’s first stop was at Abu Dabi to attend the World Future Energy Summit.

In his address the President said that the change needed to combat climate change was radical, “although we do not possess all the technologies” to do so.

Nasheed emphasised that countries and companies who led the change through their capacity for innovation would be the winners of the century.

He claimed countries would need to learn to live within planetary boundaries, and further added that by the end of the century, “the entire world needs to go carbon neutral.”

The president also told the summit that the Copenhagen accord would need to be strengthened, and that in its current form would not prevent catastrophic climate change.

“The vast majority of world leaders are determined to strengthen the Copenhagen Accord,” he said.

When that happened, he said, “market failures” would be corrected and carbon pollution would be properly penalised.

“To my mind, the smart money is green,” said Nasheed.

The summit billed itself as the the world’s platform for sustainable future energy solutions, providing “an ideal networking event for industry leaders, investors, scientists, specialists, policymakers and researchers to discuss the challenges of rising energy demand and actions to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future for the world.”

Bahrain

In Bahrain, the President held meetings with senior government officials as well as with the banking, investment, and finance sectors in Bahrain.

Nasheed met Talal Al Zain, CEO of Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund,Dr Esam Abdulla Yousif Fakhro, Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and, Mr Easam Yousif Janahi, Chairman of First Energy Bank and Gulf Finance House.

The meetings centred on the business and investment opportunities available in the Maldives. Discussions were also held on forging cooperation between Maldives fishing industry and Bahrain fishing companies.

India

In Chennai, India, Nasheed attended the Partnership Summit 2010 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Nasheed addressed the summit and said “the government was looking for investors for public sector investment programmes, particularly in utilities and other infrastructure projects.”

President Nasheed also visited a wind turbine manufacturing facility in Vengal near Chennai, India.

“The evolution of wind turbine technology means it is now easy to generate electricity even at low wind speeds,” he said.

“This opens up significant opportunities to set up wind parks in newer locations,” he added.

The president was also present at the signing ceremony when the Government of Maldives signed an agreement with Apollo Hospitals to manage Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’.

“We have immense faith in Apollo Hospitals and the pioneering spirit of the group,” he said.

“Under the able leadership of the visionary Dr Reddy, we are certain that IGMH and the Maldives will emerge as a global healthcare destination,” the president said.

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Blood spilt in DRP-MDP scuffle

Three men attacked and injured an Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporter during a protest outside TVM studios last night.

MDP and DRP supporters had gathered outside TVM and were shouting abuse at each other while Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ahmed Nihan was inside appearing on a TV program.

Minivan News witnessed three men attack the MDP supporter, who was left with a bleeding forehead.

Police arrived and took the injured man, Ibrahim ‘Baikendi’ Manik, to hospital, and had to restrain MDP supporters from attacking a DRP member.

Ibrahim claimed he had “no idea” why the he was attacked, and said his forehead and wrist were injured in the incident and he collapsed.

DRP spokesman Ibrahim Shareef said the attackers were not DRP supporters, and that “while MDP supporters often attack DRP members, DRP supporters never attack MDP supporters.”.

Police Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said no arrests had been made, and the case was considered closed.

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Airports Company transfers 200 employees

More than 200 employees from the Maldives Airports Company will be transferred to the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Maldivian National Defense Force (MNDF).

Managing Director Mohamed Ibrahim said 84 employees working at the air traffic control tower will be transferred tothe  civil aviation ministry while 179 airport security officers will be transferred to the MNDF.

The company is being restructured and the transfer of employees is part of the downsizing project.

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Police arrest three connected to gang rape

Police have confirmed that three men have been arrested for raping a 40 year old woman in Gnaviyani Faumulaku.

The woman and her husband were stopped by three masked men on Friday night. After being taken at knife point to a remote beach area of the island, the men tied the husband to a tree and gang raped the woman.

Police said that the men were arrested with assistance from the Fuamulak community and the Fuamulak Crime Prevention Committee.

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Childrens’ park reopens

The ‘Kudakudhinge Bageecha’ childrens’ park has reopened today, after the government eased the swine flu alert level.

The park has been closed down since 25 November after the health ministry raised the swine flu alert level from three to four.

The park is run by the Maldivian National Defense Force (MNDF) and is open everyday from 4 to 6 pm.

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President returns after visit to Abu Dabi, Bahrain and India

President Mohamed Nasheed has returned home after finishing his visit to Abu Dabi, Bahrain and India.

During this visit Nasheed addressed the world future energy summit and met Bahrain’s senior government officials, as well as members of the banking, investment, and finance sectors.

While in India he attended the partnership summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, and signed an agreement with Apollo Hospitals to manage Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

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Port of Colombo releases Maldivian Ship

A ship owned by the Maldivian National Shipping Ltd, (MNSL) has been released by the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka after being impounded for three months.

According to Haveeru, the 8000 tonne ship was apprehended on 5 November 2009.

The ship had owed money to a Singaporean company and has now paid the total amount, Haveeru reports.

Another Maldivian ship was also trapped for 20 days in Malaysia during July 2009 over issues regarding payments for oil.

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