The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has fined the Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) by an amount of MVR739,500 for constructing roads in Addu without conducting the prerequisite Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
The EPA said that it has ordered the MRDC to pay the fine within a period of 30 days.
(1)Dislikes
(0)The Maldives Police Services have announced the promotion of five persons working in the police reserve force – or Special Constabulary – to full police officers.
Following the change, the police are seeking new recruits for the constabulary.
Police revealed that the five persons were officers from the reserve force who were working as security guards at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
(1)Dislikes(0)A man has been arrested in the early hours of Wednesday for being caught in the act of stealing bananas from a stall at the local market in capital Malé city.
Police informed media that the arrested man is a local, age 34, who has a previous record of drug abuse.
He was arrested by officers who were patrolling the streets of Malé. Police recovered a number of what are suspected to be stolen bananas from his possession.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Attorney General’s Office announced yesterday (July 1) that it had not received any complaints regarding the voters’ list for the election of a lawyer to the Judicial Services Commission.
The Supreme Court last week amended regulations in order to allow previously judges and MPS – previously excluded – to take part in the election of the legal representative on the judicial watchdog.
Subsequently, the office has announced the list to be the final version, placing the number of eligible voters at a total of 788 persons.
According to the announcement, the election will be held in five other islands in addition to capital city Malé – Ihavandhoo in Haa Alif atoll, Kulhudhuhfushi in Haa Dhaal atoll, Veymandoo in Thaa atoll, Fonadhoo in Laamu atoll, and Villin’gili in Gaafu Alif atoll.
In Malé, voting booths will be placed in Arabiyya School on Chandhanee Magu.
The election is scheduled to be held from 9.30am to 3.30pm on July 13.
Five candidates are registered to contest in the election, including former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, former JSC member Latheefa Gasim, as well as lawyers Mohamed Fareed, Mohamed Faisal, and Anas Abdul Sattar.
(0)Dislikes(0)Two pieces of government-sponsored legislation were sent to committee for further review at today’s sitting of the People’s Majlis.
An amendment proposed by MP Ahmed Assad to abolish the Special Majlis and People’s Majlis MPs’ Salary Act of 1990 was accepted unanimously with 65 votes in favour.
Additionally, an amendment proposed by MP Ali Shah to the Territorial Waters of Maldives Act of 1996 was accepted with 63 votes in favour, one against and two abstentions.
(0)Dislikes(0)Pro-government MPs have voted against a motion without notice submitted by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Imthiyaz Fahmy to debate the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) decision last week to clear Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed of misconduct over his alleged appearance in a series of sex tapes.
The early motion – which would have opened the floor to a one-hour debate – was defeated with 44 votes against and 18 in favour at the ongoing sitting of parliament.
Presenting the motion, MP Imthiyaz said the JSC decision was “a permanent stain” on the Maldivian judiciary and an obstacle to judicial reform.
Following the vote, Imthiyaz tweeted:
True to their old style, the govt MPs today gave the come-on to judges with sex tapes by rejecting an Early Motion on Ali Hameed case.
— Inthi (@Imthiyazfahmy) July 1, 2014
The presence of a disgraced judge on the Supreme Court bench – who most citizens believe has lost his integrity – threatens the independence of the apex court, adversely affects decisions of lower courts, and robs Maldivian citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed right to a free and fair trial, the party contended in a press statement this week.
(0)Dislikes(0)Parliament yesterday (June 30) approved a report by a select committee tasked with constituting standing committees and allocating seats on the Majlis’ 13 committees.
The select committee decision was passed with 49 votes in favour, three against, and seven abstentions at yesterday’s sitting of parliament.
A list of MPs proposed by political parties for the 13 standing committees was also passed with 57 votes in favour and three abstentions.
Following the vote, 11 of the 13 standing committees held their first meeting yesterday and elected chairs and deputy chairs. MPs of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives were elected chairs of all 11 committees.
Along with five MPs of coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance, the ruling coalition has a clear majority of 46 MPs in the 85-member People’s Majlis.
(0)Dislikes(0)President Abdulla Yameen has today created the Ministry of Law and Gender, which is set to oversee all government functions related to families, children, women, people with special needs, and human rights.
These functions, previously under the remit of the Ministry of Health, have resulted in the change of this ministry’s title to the Ministry of Health. Dr Mariyam Shakeela was today sworn in as head of this department.
Among the new ministry’s areas of oversight are the Attorney General’s Office, the special needs facility in Kaafu Guraidhoo, and the Villingili orphanage.
“The Ministry of Law and Gender will further be mandated with tackling the issue of domestic violence, apart from those responsibilities of the Courts and the Maldives Police Service,” explained a President’s Office press release.
The President’s Office revealed that the renamed Ministry of Health will be responsible for all regional hospitals and health centres, the Food and Drug Authority, and blood services.
The minister of health will also oversee the Social Protection Agency, the National Drug Agency, and the Health Protection Agency.
(0)Dislikes(0)A number of nominees by President Abdulla Yameen for independent institutions and diplomatic posts have been forwarded to the relevant standing committee for vetting at today’s sitting of parliament.
The nominees include President Yameen’s nephew Maumoon Hameed for the vacant post of prosecutor general, ‘Kurolhi’ Adam Zahir for a vacant seat on the Police Integrity Commission, and former MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakur for the new post of Information Commissioner.
The nominees will be interviewed and vetted by the independent institutions committee.
President Yameen also nominated Aishath Zahira for deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority.
Among nominees for diplomatic posts were Ahmed Shian as ambassador to the EU and non-resident high commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohamed Asim as the non-resident high commissioner to Bangladesh, Abdulla Hameed as the non-resident ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and Fathmath Inaya as the non-resident ambassador to Singapore.
The nominees to the diplomatic posts will be vetted by the national security committee.
(0)Dislikes(0)