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‘Help Syria Through Winter’ campaign raises over MVR600k

A fund raising campaign dubbed ‘Help Syria Through Winter’ conducted by local NGO ‘Help’ has raised MVR605,907 (US$39,294) in three weeks.

According to Sun Online, a delegation from the NGO recently departed for Istanbul, Turkey to deliver the funds, which are to be used to purchase four ambulances.

Fund raising activities that took place across the Maldives included selling T-shirts and placement of fund boxes as well as religious workshops and sermons.

The fund raising efforts were led by NGO Salaf preacher, Sheikh Adam Shameem Ibrahim.

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Vice President departs on official visit to Qatar and Kuwait

Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed departed on an official visit to Qatar and Kuwait last night.

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Dr Jameel said the main purpose of the trip was to strengthen ties with Arab Islamic nations.

He added that the government was seeking investments from Arab countries in healthcare and housing as well as assistance for development projects.

Discussions would also take place about establishing an Islamic university in the Maldives, he said.

“In addition to this, we will also talk with these countries about providing budget support to the Maldives,” he said.

The vice president was accompanied on the trip by Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and President’s Office Minister Abdulla Ameen.

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High Court overturns life sentence for drug possession

The life sentence handed down to Hussein Mohamed Sobah of Raa Atoll for drug possession was today overturned at the High Court.

In January 2013, Sobah was given the sentence after the Criminal Court found him guilty of possessing 2.5k of illegal drugs.

The High Court ruling today stated that Sobah had appealed the ruling, basing his argument on four main points. The High Court, however, had only referred to fact that police had failed to obtain a warrant – or the permission of the owner – before searching the premises of Golden Alloy Pvt Ltd [where the drugs were discovered].

The High Court said that when the judges panel presiding over the case looked into the matter, it noticed that Sobah had highlighted this issue during the Criminal Court hearings.

The court stated that the only situation in which the police can enter a house without the consent of the owner or with a court warrant was in a situation where a person’s life was at risk, requiring police to take immediate action.

The ruling said that the evidence collected inside the premises of Golden Alloy Pvt Ltd could not be considered as admissible, and that the constitution of the Maldives stated that the court should dismiss any evidence collected unlawfully.

In June 2011, police arrested Sobah with another man on suspicion that they were in possession of illegal narcotics, during a special operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED).

At the time the then-DED Superintendent Mohamed Jinah said that the police were able to seize the drugs before they had been circulated across the country, and that this was a great success for the police and government.

The street value of these drugs was estimated by the police to be approximately MVR1.7 million (US$110,000) .

The two men were arrested near the UN building in the Galolhu district on Malé following intelligence reports. Police stated that the drugs were imported with the assistance of a cargo vessel.

“The vessel drops these things into the sea into an area determined by them,’’ the police at the time. “They went to the location on a dingy and picked it up and brought it to Malé.’’

The second man arrested with Sobah was also tried at the Criminal Court, though the court ruled  there was not enough evidence to prove guilt.

The Criminal Court’s ruling on Sobah stated that the fingerprint comparison report for the drugs discovered inside the office matched with the left hand, middle finger, of Sobah.

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51-year-old sentenced to ten years for child sex abuse

Ungoofaaru Magistrate Court in Raa Atoll has sentenced a 51-year-old man to 10 years after the court found him guilty of sexually abusing a boy multiple times.

The police have issued a statement today following the sentence, identifying the man as Moosa Mohamed Manik, 51, of Bahaaree Gulshan House in Maduvvari Island, Raa Atoll.

According to the statement, he was found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

The police said that Ungoofaaru Magistrate Court sentenced him under the special provisions on perpetrators of child sex abuse.

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LGA recommends making councillors part-time

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has recommended making councillors part-time with the exception of council presidents and vice presidents.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Defence Minister Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim – who chairs the institution tasked with monitoring councils and coordinating with the government – said the LGA has proposed amending the Decentralisation Act to pay part-time councillors an allowance for attending council meetings.

“For example, a teacher or a headmaster level person or someone with higher educational qualifications, they will have the opportunity to contest [council elections]; or for example if it’s a skilled person, a boat builder, they will only have to come for meetings and they’re done after giving their advice and opinion,” Nazim explained.

“The president and vice president will operate the council. Instead, now they have to leave their profession – the teacher, headmaster or boat builder has to give up his job.”

As a consequence, Nazim contended, the councillors’ time was not put to productive use.

“The benefit of [the changes] is that the councillor has to work a very short amount of time and be free to work productively for the island’s development,” he added.

Wage bill

The president of island councils currently receive a monthly salary and allowance of MVR15,000 (US$973) while council members receive MVR11,000 (US$713). The mayor of Malé is paid MVR45,000 (US$2,918) a month.

The president and vice president of councils are elected from among the members by secret ballot.

A total of MVR717 million (US$46 million) was allocated in the 2011 national budget to pay salaries and allowances for local councils, which accounted for 17 percent of the annual wage bill.

Under article 25 of the Decentralisation Act, a five-member council is elected in islands with a population of less than 3,000, a seven-member council for islands with a population between 3,000 and 10,000, and a nine-member council for islands with a population of more than 10,000.

City councils comprise of “an elected member from every electoral constituency of the city” and atoll councils comprises of “elected members from the electoral constituencies within the administrative division.”

The current model of more than 1,000 elected councillors approved in 2010 by the then-opposition majority parliament was branded “economic sabotage” by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, which had proposed limiting the number of councillors to “no more than 220.”

The new layer of government introduced with the first local council elections in February 2011 cost the state US$12 million a year with a wage bill of US$220,000 a month.

Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad told parliament’s Budget Review Committee last year that President Abdulla Yameen favoured revising the local government framework to reduce the number of island and atoll councillors.

In November 2013, the incoming administration proposed merging island and atoll councils, with the latter to be composed of a representative from each island of the atoll.

President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz said at the time that “the president’s thinking is not to cut down on the number of councillors. But to elect councilors based on the population of the islands. This is a move to curb state expenditure.”

However, parliament did not move to amend the Decentralisation Act ahead of the local council elections on January 18, which saw 1,100 councillors elected for  three-year terms.

Three-year terms

Nazim meanwhile told the press yesterday that the LGA’s recommendations have been shared with the government and the legislature.

While the proposals were intended to reduce the state’s recurrent expenditure – which accounts for over 70 percent of the budget – Nazim said the LGA does not support changing the council’s term from three to five years.

Contending that the legal responsibility of local councils was implementing the government’s policies, Nazim said voters should have the opportunity to change their elected representatives during an ongoing five-year presidential term.

“Citizens get an opportunity to see what kind of results the council produced and the extent to which they upheld the government’s policies,” he said.

Nazim said that LGA Deputy Chair Ahmed Faisal’s public remarks concerning combining the local council and parliamentary elections represented his personal opinion.

The defence minister noted that the Elections Commission has yet to announce official results of the local council elections – held eleven days ago – and that conducting the polls simultaneously would create present difficulties for the commission.

In December, the World Bank warned in a report that the Maldivian economy was at risk due to excessive government spending, with an already excessive wage bill ballooned by 55 percent in 2013.

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Former civil service chief has no grounds for appeal, says CSC

The Civil Court has held the first hearing into the compensation case for dismissed President of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Mohamed Fahmy Hassan.

In late December, 2012, Fahmy filed charges against the state seeking compensation for losses after the People’s Majlis dismissed him from his position.

Fahmy’s dismissal followed the Majlis’ no-confidence motion in November 2012 after it had conducted an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Speaking at the hearing of the case held today in the Civil Court, CSC legal representative Abdul Naseer Shafeeq stated that, as the law states that the president of the civil service must be appointed by the parliament, the parliament’s decision on the matter is final, local media reported.

Shafeeq added that once the parliament decided on the matter, he believed the secretariat was right in following the parliament’s decision. He further said that he had accepted the secretariat was right in not allowing someone other than the person appointed by parliament to enter the premises of the CSC and take up responsibilities of the Chair.

Fahmy’s access to the commission’s offices was revoked in September last year after he continued to attend work during the impasse between the judiciary and the legislature over his dismissal.

Last March, he Supreme Court -had ruled that parliament’s decision was void on the basis that it had breached the law. Fahmy used this ruling as justification in his case against the state.

He stated that, following the Parliament’s appointment of Dr Mohamed Latheef as the president of the CSC, Fahmy had no grounds to claim the responsibilities of the commission’s president.

Shafeeq further pointed out that Fahmy is currently filling another state position.

Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen appointed Fahmy to the post of Deputy High Commissioner of Maldives in Malaysia in the midst of the CSC scandal – just days after assuming office.

The state had previously raised procedural issues in the case, and arguing that the case cannot be carried forward.

Fahmy is suing the state for damages of over MVR7 million as compensation for financial losses and psychological trauma he has suffered through the CSC’s failure to allow him access to its premises and its severance of his pay after the parliament’ decision.

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PPM MPs support abolishing tourism bed tax

Deputy leader of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives’ (PPM) parliamentary group Moosa Zameer has supported abolishing tourism bed tax if the Tourism Goods and Service Tax (T-GST) is raised from 8 to 12 percent.

Reintroducing the US$8 tourism bed tax, which was discontinued on December 31, 2013, is among the raft of revenue raising measures proposed by President Abdulla Yameen.

However, speaking at an eleven member sub committee set up to review the government’s revenue raising measures, Zameer said that government aligned MPs now believed bed tax should be abolished if T-GST were to be increased.

Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad has denied any change in the government’s stance.

“It has not changed. And if the government does not go on with the bed-tax, the numbers will not match in the budget,” Jihad told Minivan News.

According to the Madives Tourism Act, bed tax must be abolished within three years of the introduction of T-GST. The Finance Ministry has said discontinuation of bed tax will cost the state MVR100 million (US$ 6.4 million) every month.

The government expects MVR3.4 billion (US$ 224 million) from revenue raising measures. These also include revision of import duties, raising airport departure charge for foreign passengers from US$ 18 to US$ 25, leasing an additional 12 islands for resort development, introducing GST for telecommunication services, and collecting resort lease extension in advance.

Government aligned MPs requested the People’s Majlis hold an extraordinary session during the ongoing recess, contending that failure to pass the revenue raising measures will hamper the implementation of the 2014 budget.

Meanwhile, the Maldives Association for Tourism Industries (MATI) has questioned the practicality of collecting resort lease extensions in a lump sum.

Speaking at the sub committee yesterday, Secretary General of MATI Ahmed Nazeer said only 17 out of more than one hundred resorts had paid resort lease extension fees upfront during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

Nazeer pointed out that the Civil Court had said the government could not ask for resort lease extensions upfront during Nasheed’s tenure.

Further, resort owners had amended their agreements to pay lease extension in installments during President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan’s administration, and as such it would be difficult to amend legislation, Nazeer said.

Then Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Fazeel Najeeb at the time opposed many of those measures, arguing that asking resort owners to pay lease extension fees upfront was robbing the state of future revenue for a “temporary benefit.”

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs said changing agreements could reduce investor agreement in the country.

MDP has described the government’s revenue raising measures as excessive.

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Chinese ambassador announces plans to build 1,500 houses in Maldives

Additional reporting by Ahmed Naish

The Chinese ambassador to the Maldives announced plans to construct 1,500 housing units during a Chinese New Year celebration in the capital Malé last night.

“We will work with the Maldivian side on how to make the best use of Chinese grant aid and the concessional loans to further benefit the economic and social development of Maldives,” said ambassador Wang Fukang.

Also in attendance at the event, Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon expressed gratitude for the growing Chinese support in the country’s development.

“Maldives has always looked to China as an invaluable friend whose contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of the Maldives is immense. Some of the projects and some of the businesses that are currently underway are indeed very exciting,” Dunya said.

Military ties between the two countries also appear to be growing, with a Chinese naval ship arriving in Malé this morning. Rear Admiral Shen Hao of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) expressed his hope that cooperation between the two nations would continue to strengthen.

As well providing loans equivalent to one quarter of the Maldives’ GDP to the previous administration, the Chinese government recently granted the new government of President Adbulla Yameen 50 million yuan (US$8.2 million) in development aid.

Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed was also in attendance at yesterday’s function, alongside cabinet members from the current administration.

Links between the two countries have expanded rapidly in recent years, largely as a result of the exponential growth in Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives.

Reflecting the growth in Chinese travellers worldwide over the last decade, Chinese tourist arrivals in the Maldives grew at an average rate of 48 percent between 2008-2012, becoming the industry’s biggest market in 2010.

In his speech last night, the Chinese ambassador noted that 45 percent of tourists to the country last year were Chinese, giving cause for the government to maintain close bilateral relations with the Maldives.

Defence ties have grown alongside the recent spike in tourist arrivals, with a military aid agreement being signed in December 2012.

The Chinese Navy’s hospital ship ‘Peace Ark’ arrived today on a goodwill mission, read a Defence Ministry press release, with plans to provide medical services throughout the country until July 5.

The PLA Navy’s ‘Mission Harmony 2013’ will visit Kaafu Guraidhoo, Rasdhoo, Alif Dhaal Mahibadhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Fuvamulah, Addu City, Eydhafushi, Gaa Alif Villingili, and Senahiya Hospital in Male’.

The Defence Ministry has also revealed that the PLA will be providing home services for those with special needs in Kaafu Guraidhoo,as well as offering services at the ‘Kudakudhinge Hiya’ orphanage in Kaafu Villingili. Contact details for the service are available via the Defence Ministry website.

After becoming the only non-SAARC country to maintain a full diplomatic mission in the Maldives in 2011, China’s embassy has recently move to a larger premises and has recently started providing visa services to locals.

Following a recent state visit to India, however, President Yameen noted that regional ties would always be at the forefront of the Maldives’ foreign relations. Growing ties with China have prompted concern within India of Chinese military ambitions in the Indian Ocean region.

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MoU signed to extend Fulbright programme

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the United States embassy today to extend the prestigious Fulbright scholarship programme for an additional five years.

In addition to scholarships for graduate studies in the US, the programme also allows for the exchange of US academics to conduct research or to teach in the Maldives.

“Since the Maldives program was initiated in 2003, 21 Maldivians have completed graduate studies in the United States, including at the University of Pennsylvania, Williams College, and at the University of Minnesota.  During that same time, American scholars have taught and undertaken research in Maldives on issues ranging from education to tourism,” the American embassy said in a press statement.

“This renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maldives underscores our commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Maldivians,” Ambassador Michele Sison said at the signing ceremony with Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, who signed the MoU on behalf of the Maldives.

“We are proud to offer an exceptional academic programme that invests in the citizens of Maldives, and allows Fulbrighters to apply their research for the greater benefit of the Maldivian people.”

According to the embassy, more than 325,000 scholars representing 155 countries have participated in the programme worldwide since its inception in 1946, including 40 Nobel Laureates, and 28 heads of state or heads of government.

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