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Visa crisis hitting hiring and business, say resorts

Major resort operators in the Maldives have expressed serious concern with the country’s escalating visa crisis, claiming a failure to resolve the ongoing problems is leading to an inability to hire critical foreign personnel and stranding existing workers in the country.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, management for several exclusive resort properties in the Maldives expressed alarm that inefficiencies processing visas were not only preventing the hiring of foreign workers, but also preventing staff from being able to leave the country.

These concerns were aired as the Department of Immigration expressed confidence it would be able to clear a backlog of visa documentation for foreign workers, during an 11 day period in which it would not be accepting new applications.

Immigration authorities said the halt was necessary to improve service by clearing a backlog of documents uploaded online, however multiple resorts accused the department of being “inefficient” and “sporadic”.

A senior representative for one multinational group operating properties across the country said the company’s human resources team had raised issues with immigration not accepting visa applications between August 8 to August 18.

The source said the concerns reflected a wider problem with hiring foreign staff. The company said the delays had forced it to delay hiring vital staff, which was impacting the guest experience.

The general manager of another exclusive resort agreed that a failure to address ongoing problems obtaining visas for foreign nationals remained a “real issue”.

“We have staff members whose visas have now expired who cannot leave the country for various reasons such as annual leave, and sometimes really serious issues,” the manager said.

The source claimed that services provided by the country’s immigration department was “sporadic”, with individual applications taking an unpredictable amount of time to be processed.

“This all needs to be done by one government department instead of three, and the entire system needs less people working more efficiently,” the manager added.

The resort source said the decision of immigration authorities to suspend new applications for work visas for 11 days this month had hampered efforts to recruit needed staff during the busy Eid period.

Public sector

Despite the concerns raised by private employers, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Geela Ali said state authorities had been consulted by immigration authorities in advance of not accepting visa applications.

Geela said that as a major employer of foreigners, both the health and education ministries had been given a period of two to three days to fast track any urgent requests for expatriate labour in order to minimise impacts to their operations while the visa system was “repaired”.

She added that while there would still be some difficulties for the ministries due to the ongoing work by immigration officials, the work was anticipated to allow for a more efficient visa system after completion.

Immigration Department Spokesperson Ibrahim Ashraf told Minivan News that the expat online system remained functional this week, although users would be unable to submit any visa applications for processing.

“Thousands of documents have been uploaded and there seem to be a number of counterfeit documents among these,” he said. “We are confident this this backlog will be cleared and new staff have also now been trained to oversee work going forward.”

The immigration department has previously announced that it would be hiring 30 staff to help oversee a comprehensive audit of the visa system.

Ashraf claimed that there was particular concern about business and individual applicants looking to obtain a foreign worker quota or visa by uploading documents that were either incorrect, irrelevant or fraudulent .

Immigration officials earlier this year dismissed reports of a “flaw” in the country’s online expatriate registration system, instead expressing concern that the technology was open to abuse by registered companies.

The Immigration Department confirmed at the time that authorities faced challenges in verifying whether construction projects were real, or a front to smuggle foreign labour into the country, but told Minivan News it had expected to resolve the issue by July.

Trapped in the Maldives

Minivan News has in recent months been informed of a growing number expatriates working in both the public and private sector who have been stranded in the Maldives by immigration authorities due to a failure of state and private employers to renew visa documentation.

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Maldives police sign MOU with Turkish counterparts

Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Turkish National Police during his official visit to Turkey.

Alongside Director General of the Turkish National Police, Mehmet Kiliclar, Riyaz signed the Security Cooperation Agreement in order to strengthen the institutional relationship between Turkey and the Maldives.

“The Security Cooperation Agreement will provide important training opportunities for officers of the Maldives Police Service in diverse areas including the combating of transnational organised crime, human trafficking and narcotics abuse and trafficking,” read a statement on the Maldives Police Service (MPS) website.

Writing from Ankara on his personal Twitter feed, Riyaz also mentioned a meeting with the Turkish International Academy against Drugs & Organised Crime, stating that the organisation has assured the MPS support and assistance.

The MPS delegation will be in Turkey until Saturday.

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Islamic Ministry calls for reciting of Qunoot-e-Naazila following unrest in Egypt

Islamic Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has called on all Imams to recite the Qunoot after Fajr, Maqrib and Isha prayers, in recognition of the situation in Egypt, reported Sun Online.

According to the Shaafi’ee Madhab, if the Muslim community is being affected by calamity or hardship the Qunoot-e-Naazila may be recited in all prayers.

Sheikh Shaheem told Sun Online that according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), the Qunoot-e-Naazila was to recited when the Muslim community was facing substantial grievance.

The last time Islamic Ministry decided to call for the reciting of the Qunoot-e-Naazila was in November 2009 during the swine flu outbreak.

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Fire destroys kitchen in expatriate accommodation

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) firefighters have contained a fire that started this morning in a building containing expatriate workers, Mahchangolhi Yellow in Male.

In a statement issued today the MNDF said that the incident was reported at 10:08 am this morning and the fire was controlled in around half an hour.

The MNDF said the incident occurred due to a gas leak while the expats were cooking inside the house.

Although no one was injured in the incident, the MNDF said all equipment inside the kitchen and a room next to the kitchen was damaged beyond repair.

The MNDF said police and the MNDF fire and rescue team were further investigating the case. accommodation

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MDP MP summoned to police for questioning over Supreme Court Judge sex tape blackmail scandal

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmy has been summoned by police in connection with the alleged blackmailing of Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed using footage of the judge having sex with two foreign women said to be prostitutes.

Police confirmed to Minivan News that the Feydhoo MP had been asked to produce himself at police headquarters tonight at 8:30pm for questioning. They declined to provide further information on the matter.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Alhan Fahmy’s sister and lawyer Nooruban Fahmy said Fahmy had no insight at to why police had summoned him.

‘’We do not know any information yet,’’ she said. “We will know more tonight.’’

Fahmy has meanwhile told local media that the police summon chit states he is to be questioned over a matter involving corruption, blackmail and intimidation.

The MP tweeted a screenshot of a text message he claimed had been sent to his mobile phone by Superintendent of Police Mohamed Riyaz. The text read: ‘’Alhan, will make sure you are fully famed (sic) for blackmailing Justice Ali Hameed. You don’t know who we are.’’

On July 4, police formally notified the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Prosecutor General and President Mohamed Waheed Hassan regarding their investigation into the case.

The existence of a video footage allegedly involving Justice Hameed indulging in adultery came into media limelight following the arrest of Ahmed Faiz – a senior Council Member of President Waheed’s Gaumee Ihthihaad Party (GIP) and former Project Advisor at the Housing Ministry.

Following the arrest, Faiz was dismissed from his government position and the Spokesperson of President’s Office Masood Imad – who is also a GIP council member – denounced any links with the government regarding the video.

Still images from the sex tape, allegedly showing the judge committing adultery with an unidentified foreign woman, are meanwhile circulating on social media networks.

While fornication outside marriage is a crime under Maldivian law and subject to 100 lashes – a punishment disproportionately meted out to women – the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has so far rejected the recommendation of its investigating sub committee to suspend Justice Hameed, citing “lack of evidence”.

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MDP appoints 1000 election observers as campaign spreads across country

With less than 23 days to go ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has claimed it remains confident of a first round victory with four campaign teams supported by thousands of volunteers working across the country.

MDP Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said the party’s campaign was going “extremely well”.

“We have four campaign teams working round the clock throughout the country. We have a team that includes the parliamentary group, a team led by the running mate (Dr Musthafa Luthfy), a team led by the Speaker of Parliament (Abdulla Shahid) and a team led by Nasheed himself,” Ghafoor said.

Ghafoor described the MDP’s campaign team as “a government in the awakening” that comprised of members of the former MDP-led government fighting against those who ousted them, in a battle to “win back justice”.

Speaking during a previous campaign rally, former President Mohamed Nasheed asserted that the results of the elections are clear and that the Elections Commission should not worry about the possibility of a run-off election.

“We will not need to go for a second round. Tune onto your radios, subscribe for cable TV and pay your cable bills, for this picture by the will of God, is being witnessed throughout the country,” Nasheed claimed. “Mohamed Nasheed of Galolhu ward Keneryge will win this election with 121,000 votes in the first round.”

Gahfoor said today that the party fully expected to receive 57 percent of the vote, though Nasheed’s rivals in the campaign have all expressed similar confidence ahead of the first round. He claimed that the figure was based on the party’s door to door campaigns and the data collected from the regional campaign coordinators and campaign agents stationed throughout the country.

Thousands of people turned out to hear Nasheed speak earlier this week during a rally held to commemorate the 12th anniversary of Black Friday in 2004, when government security forces attacked anti-Gayoom protesters.

Ghafoor is himself a coordinator for the regions Shaviyani Atoll, Raa Atoll and Laamu Atoll which comprises 13 parliamentary constituencies, contended that out of the 8,000 people who registered themselves to vote outside the region, more than 50 percent had pledged their vote to former President Nasheed.

“When the coup was brought about, our government’s popular support stood around 50 percent. After the coup and the unveiling of all the hypocrisy with the change of government, our support base currently stands beyond 55 percent,” he claimed.

Polling and Policies

Meanwhile, MDP announced that is planning to place more than a thousand election observers throughout the country, an average of four observers per ballot box.

Ghafoor added that work was underway to train the observers ahead of the elections: “We will not tolerate any attempts by this unelected government to influence the vote. We are very cautious and very prepared for that,” he said.

Ahead of the campaign, the former ruling party has launched series of election policies as part of its mini-manifesto. The policies, said the party, were planned to boost the crippled economy and increase the number of jobs available to young people.

Examples of the policies have included more sports facilities, higher enrolments in higher education, the development of a mari-culture industry, and improvements to the country’s internal agriculture trade in order to reduce the country’s huge import bill.

The MDP also proposed a guest house policy which is intended to double the number of tourist arrivals in the country within the next three years, creating more job opportunities while also improving the quality of living across the islands.

With less than a month for the elections, Ghafoor claimed that the party’s strong policies and intense campaigning gave them the edge over the remaining candidates.

“MDP will easily win the elections securing the needed 50 percent plus 1 vote. I still believe PPM will be trailing behind us. I don’t think it will be a close contest. Waheed and Gasim will probably secure the third and fourth positions,” he said.

Asked if the possibility of involvement of large sums of money given to voters could affect the possible outcome of the election results, Ghafoor claimed that vote buying would not have much of an impact.

“I think the people are more aware of the candidates running in the election. But we have to admit it, money plays a significant role in Maldivian voting culture. However, money cannot buy loyalty,” he said.

“PPM I believe will come second because it is lead by the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He will obviously have loyal supporters. But it may be a different story when it comes to recruiting their young support base. Apart from Gayoom, both Gasim and even Waheed are using money to get votes,” he claimed.

Ghafoor also described the current election politics as that of a battle between the past and the future. He claimed that the remaining three candidates were proxies of former President Gayoom’s 30 year reign and had nothing new to offer to the people.

“This is a clash between the past and the future and we are the future,” he said.

Aerial view of the MDP’s August 12 rally near the tsunami monument:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBJiOAnFVw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Former President condemns “appalling violence” of crackdown on demonstrators by Egyptian security forces

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has issued a statement condemning the “appalling violence” of security forces in Wednesday’s crackdown on demonstrators backing the recently deposed Muslim Brotherhood.

“Dozens of protestors – reportedly including women, children and journalists – were killed on Wednesday as security forces opened fire on supporters of former President Morsi, who was ousted in a coup in July,” the statement read.

“Should these reports prove to be accurate, President Nasheed believes that the dispensation currently ruling Egypt should be held fully responsible for the protesters’ deaths.”

Egyptian state media reports suggested 235 civilians had been killed in the crackdown and 2000 injured after the Egyptian army opened fire on demonstators, while media present suggested the death toll could be much higher.

In a statement the International Press Institute suggested journalists were being deliberately targeted by both sides in the conflict. Journalists killed yesterday included a reporter from a state newspaper in the UAE Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, Egyptian journalist Ahmed Abdel Gawad and a UK Sky News cameraman.

Egyptian prime minister Hazem El Beblawi declared a month-long state of emergency and evening curfew as violence began to erupt across the country, following the military’s bulldozing of the protest camps in Cairo.

According to Al Jazeera, Beblawi praised police for using “self-restraint” and accused protesters of “carrying illegal arms, hijacking roads, assaulting private and public property and crippling people’s interest”.
“It is an assault on the citizens and the authority of the state, which should be respected by all,” he said. “Therefore it was necessary to take a firm stance. It was necessary for the state to intervene to restore security and to assure citizens that their rights could not be undermined by the protests.”

His Vice-President Mohamed El-Baradei meanwhile resigned in protest against the violence, stating that there had been peaceful options for resolving the political turmoil.

The crackdown has been condemned by governments around the world, including the UK, EU, US and UN.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon urged for “inclusive reconciliation” while US Secretary of State John Kerry said the “path toward violence leads only to greater instability, economic disaster and suffering”.

“Today’s events are deplorable and run counter to Egyptian aspirations for democracy. We and others have urged the government to respect the rights of free expression and to resolve this peacefully,” Kerry said. “There will not be a solution from further polarisation.”

The Maldivian government has issued a statement urging “all parties to respect the right to freedom of assembly as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 15/21 on the Rights to Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.”

“As an emerging democracy itself, the Maldives is familiar with the trials of democracy consolidation. A full and resilient democracy and a culture of respect for human rights can only be cultivated through denouncing of violence, and collaboration and consultation between all stakeholders, including the political opposition,” said a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The Maldives also experienced a police and military mutiny on 7 February 2012, which saw police arming opposition demonstrators and launching an assault on the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s main military base and forcefully taking over the state broadcaster. The protesters then issued an ultimatum to President Mohamed Nasheed, who was inside the base, calling for his resignation.

Nasheed complied, stating that remaining in power at that juncture “would require the use force which would harm many citizens.”

A subsequent and controversial report by a Commonwealth-backed Commission of National Inquiry dismissed claims that the security forces’ mutiny had “any coercive effect upon the President.”

“Indeed, until the time of his resignation, President Nasheed possessed of many powers under the Constitution that he could have utilised including the lawful use of force. He chose not to,” the report stated.

“That decision may be classified as praiseworthy, but he cannot now contend that because he made those choices, that he was ‘forced’ into resigning.”

Hotline

The Maldivian government has meanwhile opened a hotline (+960 779 4601) for the 84 Maldivian students and their families living in Egypt.

Egyptian protesters who were gathered near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in east Cairo last night were dispersed by security forces gathering in Nasru City’s Masjidul Salaam mosque area, approximately 100 meters from where the Maldivian expatriates are living, State Foreign Minister Hassan Saeed told Minivan News.

“Earlier the demonstrations were quite far from the students, however the demonstrators have shifted to near the Masjidul Salaam mosque, which is one bus stop away, or about 100-150 meters, from where the students are located,” said Saeed.

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Maldives government establishes emergency hotline for expatriate students in Egypt following Cairo violence

The Government of Maldives has expressed concern over the escalation of violence and loss of life in Egypt and has established an emergency hotline for the 84 Maldivian students, and accompanying family members, who currently reside 100 metres from the latest protest site.

Egyptian protesters who were previously gathered near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in east Cairo and dispersed by security forces are now gathering in Nasru City’s Masjidul Salaam mosque area, approximately 100 meters from where the Maldivian expatriates are living, State Foreign Minister Hassan Saeed explained to Minivan News today (August 14).

“Earlier the demonstrations were quite far from the students, however the demonstrators have shifted to near the Masjidul Salaam mosque, which is one bus stop away, or about 100-150 meters, from where the students are located,” said Saeed.

Saeed confirmed that 84 students and their families are currently residing in Egypt.

“We have informed the students to be vigilant and not to stray from home unless necessary,” Saeed told local media.

Although no Maldivians have been harmed in the sectarian violence that has gripped Egypt, if the situation in Nasru City deteriorates causing shops to close, obtaining food and water may become difficult, Saeed explained.

The Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today that, due to the current chaos in Egypt, any problems faced by Maldivian nationals should be reported via the emergency hotline.

The ministry will advise students and/or their family members how to respond to any difficulties they may face due to the ongoing political unrest.

Saeed also emphasised that the Maldives Embassy located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is continuously monitoring the situation and has also been in contact with the Vice President of the Maldivian Student Association in Egypt. The Embassy will provide support to the Maldivian expatriates in Egypt as necessary, he continued.

Saeed does not believe the situation Nasru City is dangerous at present, though based on tonight’s events the relevant Maldivian government authorities will re-evaluate.

Thus far no Maldivian nationals have requested evacuation and the Government of Maldives will not evacuate them from Egypt unless they request it, said Saeed.

“Sometimes the [Maldives’] government is very eager to evacuate, however when the situation returns to normal students may not have funds to return,” he explained.

“The ministry is making sure there are sufficient funds to send the students back, if they are evacuated,” he added.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tonight, the department expressed its concern with the escalation of violence and loss of life in Egypt and has called on all parties to show maximum restraint and respect for the fundamental human rights of the Egyptian people.

The government has also urged all parties in Egypt to respect the rights of freedom of assembly and association as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 15/21.

“As an emerging democracy itself, the Maldives is familiar with the trials of democracy consolidation. A full and resilient democracy and a culture of respect for human rights can only be cultivated through denouncing of violence, and collaboration and consultation between all stakeholders, including the political opposition.

“The Maldives prays for an early resolution of the situation and for the return of peace and stability to Egypt, as it continues on its path to democracy consolidation,” reads the statement.

The Emergency Hotline number for Maldivians in Egypt who require assistance is +960-779-4601.

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MDA and PPM successfully conclude coalition talks

Coalition talks have been finalised between the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) ahead of next month’s presidential elections.

Following local media reports, PPM MP Ahmed Nihan told Minivan News that, after many meetings regarding the proper alignment of the parties, the details of the arrangement had been successfully negotiated.

“We have no more details at the moment,” said Nihan. “There will be an official announcement soon.” He added that the details would also include plans for cooperation heading into next year’s parliamentary elections – scheduled for May.

The PPM and MDA currently have 22,660 and 7,904 members, respectively, whilst the former is currently the second largest party in the Majlis, behind the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The MDA’s decision to find a coalition partner was announced earlier this month. The party’s legitimacy has come under threat this year as the People’s Majlis passed legislation requiring all registered political parties to have a minimum of 10,000 members.

The MDA is the country’s newest political party having been founded last year by Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam, Managing Director of both Sun Travel Investments Pvt and Sun Travel and Tours Pvt. Shiyam’s party will now throw its support behind PPM Presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen.

The news of an MDA-PPP alliance has prompted the resurfacing of documents on social media regarding transactions between the STO and Sun Investments between 2003 and 2005.

Yameen, half-brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was also head of the State Trading Organisation (STO) between 1990 and 2006. The state owned STO is charged with sustainably supplying food and fuel to the Maldives.

In 2010, an asset tracing investigation into the STO’s accounts by forensic accountancy firm Grant Thornton revealed the use of interest-free loans to Sun Investments, amongst others, in order to acquire foreign currency.

“Loans were granted in Maldivian Rufiyaa on the basis of loans being repaid in US dollars,” read the report.

“These loans were given by keeping as security post dated cheques dated up to three months in advance. However most of these cheques according to the STO audit report were replaced by other post dated cheques just before they fell due and continued to be rolled over in this manner.”

Whilst the report did note that the cheques worth MVR112,731,250  were eventually repaid, the cost to the STO in lost interest was estimated by Grant Thornton to have been up to US$1 million.

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