Author: Minivan News

MPs abolish 1990 law on MP renumeration

The People’s Majlis today passed an amendment bill submitted on behalf of the government to abolish an outdated 1990 law governing renumeration for MPs of the People’s Majlis and Special Majlis.

The bill was approved with unanimous consent of 70 MPs at today’s sitting of parliament following review by the economic affairs committee.

The Special Majlis was a plenary assembly last convened in June 2004 to revise the constitution. Article 102 of the constitution meanwhile stipulates that salaries and allowances of People’s Majlis MPs will be determined by the parliament.

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Man fined for attempting assault on a police officer

Ahmed Farrah of Evening Rose in Maafannu Ward of capital Malé City has been fined an amount of MVR 3000 for attempting assault on a police officer.

The Criminal Court sentenced Farrah to pay the fine to the court within a period of 30 days.

Local media reports that he was prosecuted for attempting to assault a police officer who tried to stop him at a checkpoint in 2012.

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MPs debate legislation on public referendums

Preliminary debate began at today’s sitting of parliament on legislation submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Abdulla Khaleel on legislation governing public referendums.

Presenting the bill (Dhivehi) on behalf of the government, the MP for Faafu Nilandhoo said the proposed law would specify circumstances whereby public referendums could be held as well as procedures to be followed by the Elections Commission (EC) in conducting polls.

Khaleel explained that the legislation stipulates that a public referendum must be held before approving an amendment either to chapter two of the constitution, which outlines fundamental rights and freedoms, or term limits of parliamentarians and the president and vice president.

The constitution authorises both the president and parliament to “hold public referendums on issues of national importance.” Parliament is also authorised to call for public referendums to override a presidential veto on a bill.

The bill defines matters of national importance as issues that parliament believes requires public approval before enactment as law, Khaleel noted.

The bill stipulates that parliament shall pass a resolution calling for a public referendum and provides details on how to conduct the poll, he continued, adding that the public must be informed of the pros and cons of the issue prior to voting.

The first public referendum following the adoption of the new constitution in August 2008 took place in October 2010, which saw small islands overwhelmingly reject a government proposal for administrative consolidation.

The bill on public referendums along with the special economic zones (SEZs) bill was accepted for consideration today and sent to committee for further review.

The SEZ bill was accepted with 46 votes in favour and 16 against.

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MJA urges Majlis to expedite Information Commissioner approval

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has called on the Majlis to expedite the vetting and approval of the Information Commissioner.

The position was created by the landmark Right to Information Act (RTI) which came into force on July 12.

The MJA also called on state institutions to appoint information officers to all offices as soon as possible, and thanked the Maldives Police Services for being the first to appoint an information officer.

The government, state institutions and government officials must provide access to information without restrictions, the MJA said and warned the government that it would monitor the state’s actions.

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Office of the Information Commissioner established

President Abdulla Yameen has established the Office of the Information Commissioner as per the landmark Right to Information Act (RTI).

The Act, ratified in January, came into force on Saturday, July 12.

Yameen has nominated former Progressive Party of the Maldives MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abu Bakr for the position in June.

According to the RTI Act, the People’s Majlis must approve an Information Commissioner within 30 days of the act’s enforcement.

The commissioner’s tenure is five years and has the power enforce a fine on information officers who deliberately refuse access to information. Such a fine may not exceed MVR5000 (US$324).

The commissioner may also fine any individual who destroys requested information, obstructs a public authority or the Information Officer’s from providing access to information. Such a fine may not exceed MVR25,000 (US$ 1621).

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Islamic Ministry to provide financial aid to private Quran classes

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that it will be accepting applications for financial aid from privately run Quran classes from next Monday.

Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs Ali Waheed told local media that only three classes had applied for the when the program was previously announced.

The ministry has decided to provide financial assistance to 25 Quran classes this year from the Zakath fund.

They will be providing a monthly allowance of MVR 2000 (US$ 130) for each business that qualifies for the program.

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MNCCI issues laptops on installment to Iskandhar School teachers

The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) has issued ten laptops to Iskandhar School teachers on installment basis.

Teachers are expected to pay for the laptops under a scheme where they pay an amount of MVR 100 (US$ 6.48) per month. No interest will be added to the price of the laptops, the MNCCI said.

At an event held to hand over the laptops on Thursday, MNCCI Vice President Ismail Asif said program is being conducted under the chamber’s corporate social responsibility program.

“We are looking into ways in which we can help various field. We are focusing on two fields this year. That is the health and education sectors,” Asif told local media.

In addition to issuing laptops, MNCCI has also supplied the school with equipment needed for their science laboratory.

The MNCCI said they will run similar programs for other schools in the future as much as their budget allowed.

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Government declares an extra day as a public holiday on the occasion of Fitr Eid

President Abdulla Yameen has declared an extra day as a public holiday in relation to the occasion of Fitr Eid at the end of the month of Ramadan.

The President’s Office announced that if the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announces July 28 to be Fitr Eid, then July 31 will also be a holiday. If the Ministry instead announces July 29 to be Fitr Eid, then July 28 will be a holiday.

Government bodies will reopen on August 3 after Fitr Eid holidays.

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Public finance committee to summon STELCO

Parliament’s public finance committee has on Thursday decided to summon State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) for questioning regarding its operations.

MPs decided to extend the duration of overdraft facility provided to STELCO by the Bank of Maldives in relation to a MVR 50 million loan and voiced concerns over the management of STELCO.

Maradhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Shareef said electricity is a basic necessity and expressed concern about how the company is run. Mandhoo constituency MP Ahmed ‘ADK’ Nashid alleged that STELCO is not run in a cost effective manner.

Eydhafushi Constituency MP Ahmed ‘Redwave’ Saleem echoed Shareef’s concern and suggested that STELCO be summoned for questioning.

Eight of the members in attendance voted in favour of summoning STELCO for questioning.

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