Author: Minivan News

Government advertises for vacant PIC seat

The President’s Office has today opened up applications for the vacant seat on the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) following the resignation of former Chair Shahindha Ismail earlier this month.

The PIC’s is charged with promoting police officer’s respect for law, independently investigating any unlawful activities, and enhancing trust and confidence in the police.

Shahindha resigned after significant differences of opinion with her fellow commission members regarding the events surrounding February’s transfer of power.

“For me, the commission is not heading in the right direction – when you look at the commission’s work of late, I didn’t feel it was working towards objectives stated in police act,” she said at the time.

The advertisement has been published in the government gazette and will close on October 31.

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Finance Ministry Director General challenges dismissal

The Finance Ministry has dismissed its Deputy Director General Ali Arif following a report from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), local media has reported.

Permanent Secretary Ismail Shafeeg told Haveeru that Arif was taking his dismissal to the employment tribunal.

Arif himself told the paper that he was unaware of the reason for his dismissal.

“I’ve only been told that I had violated the laws and regulations. I informed them via a letter that I cannot be fired until it’s proven that I’m guilty of wrongdoing. But I’m yet to receive a response,” he told Haveeru.

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President opens Dharavandhoo airport in Baa Atoll

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan and the First Lady Madame Ilham travelled to Baa Atoll yesterday to officially open Dharavandhoo airport.

Waheed gave a speech highlighting the importance of catering to tourist in the atoll which last year became the country’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

He also discussed the importance of developing the Maldives’ transport infrastructure  and aviation capacity.

Local media reported that helium balloons were used to remove the cloth covering the airport’s sign, marking the official opening.

Waheed had travelled the twenty minutes to Baa atoll from Ibrahim Nasir Interational Airport (INIA) in Male’ where, this morning, a giant helium balloon could be seen reading ‘Go Home GMR’, by the Indian company’s office.

The development of INIA by GMR – the largest in the country’s history – has been beset by controversy since it was agreed by the former administration with current government-aligned parties calling for the airport’s nationalisation.

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‘Penitentiary Department unable to execute sentences’: State Minister

State Minister for Home Affairs Mohamed Fayaz has outlined some of the issues concerning the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) at a ceremony marking its 41st anniversary, reports Sun Online.

Fayaz said that the department was failing to execute court rulings, with less than 25 percent of 2000 people sentenced to prison behind bars when the current government took office in February.

He argued that punishments such as exile and house arrest were obsolete as island councils were refusing to accept convicts and the department did not have the resources to monitor those subsequently placed under house arrest.

“Councils do not accept exiles. We have no choice but to put them under house arrest. They go out into society, and commit more crimes. The commissioner complained to me, when the same person had to be brought in five times within one week. What can we do?” Sun reported Fayaz as saying.

Fayaz also raised the issue of prison capacity, saying that the maximum number of inmates the system can hold is 1100, whilst the current need is 2000.

“Criminals will not hesitate to commit crimes, if they know they will not be subjected to the due punishment,” he said.

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OPEC fund to provide loan for Addu hospital

The government has agreed a loan of US$8.4 million (MVR129.5 million) with OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to build a hospital in Hithadhoo, Sun Online reports.

OFID is a finance institution established by the group of petroleum exporting states to channel aid to less-developed nations, most often for vital infrastructure

Previous loan support from the fund was given to upgrade Male’ international airport in 1999, and again in 2005 to extend Wataniya’s telecoms coverage.

Sun reported that the loan had originally been agreed last year, at a slightly higher rate of interest, and that the repayment period was 20 years.

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad told Sun that the Health Ministry would begin the search for contractors next week.

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National Security Committee to resume STO oil trade investigation

The National Security Committee has decided to resume its investigation into the alleged US$800 million illegal oil trade involving the State Trading Organisation (STO).

The scandal emerged last year after an Indian magazine described Abdulla Yameen -former head of the STO and half-brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – as “the kingpin” of a scheme to buy subsidised oil through the STO’s branch in Singapore and sell it on through an entity called ‘Mocom Trading’ to the Burmese military junta, at a black market premium.,

Committee Chair Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik said that information will be gathered from the Attorney General and the ACC, reported local media.

Yameen was summoned for questioning last by the committee last year, telling the members that he was not aware of Mocom’s activities.

In August, the MDP accused the government of calling a halt to the investigation after the Attorney General (AG) revealed that the government had received a bill of $10million from the forensic accounting firm Grant Thornton.

The MDP alleged was a penalty imposed for cancelling the firm’s investigation into the case.

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Transport minister to be summoned to committee over Israeli jet

Parliament’s National Security Committee has decided to summon Transport Minister Dr Ahmed Shamheed and senior officials of the Addu International Airport Company (AIAC) over the landing of a private Israeli jet in Gan, Addu City in May this year.

Newspaper Haveeru reported the committee’s chair MP “Reeko” Moosa Manik, chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as saying today that the officials were summoned in light of a resolution passed by parliament forbidding Israeli flights to land in the Maldives until the National Security Committee reached a decision on the issue.

Moosa added that the committee has not yet set a date to question the officials. The formerly ruling MDP presently has a voting majority in the National Security Committee.

Former Transport Minister Adil Saleem was questioned by the National Security Committee after the Deputy Leader of the Adhaalath Party, Dr Mauroof Hussain, alleged that the MDP government had decided to authorise Israeli national airline to fly to the Maldives and allow an Israeli military post to be established in the country.

Adil Saleem had denied the allegations when he was summoned to the committee.

Banning Israeli flights to the Maldives was among five demands made at a ‘mega-protest’ on December 23, organised by a coalition of eight parties and religious NGOs to ‘Defend Islam’ against the allegedly liberal policies of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Following the change of government on February 7, the ruling coalition-dominated parliament passed a resolution on April 25 preventing Israeli national airline El Al from operating scheduled flights to the Maldives.

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Parliament approves committee report on assisting fishermen

Parliament today unanimously approved a report produced by an ad hoc committee formed three years ago to identify and propose solutions for difficulties faced by fishermen and boat owners.

The committee was formed on October 6, 2009 following a proposal by then-opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP for Haa Alif Kelaa, Dr Abdulla Mausoom.

In its report (Dhivehi), the committee recommended alerting the government to issues identified after consultations with officials from the fisheries ministry as well as fishermen from the three southernmost atolls.

The committee noted that fishermen were facing difficulties paying back loans due to the seven-year trend of declining fish catch.

Meanwhile at today’s sitting, MPs debated a declaration or resolution submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Mahloof to expedite the Majlis’ legislative duties to enable the criminal justice system to function more efficiently. Eleven MPs spoke during the one hour debate allocated by Speaker Abdulla Shahid for the declaration.

Also at today’s sitting, an amendment proposed by Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed to the Privileges and Protection for Former Presidents Act of 2009 was rejected 37-22 with one abstention.

The MP for Thaa Vilifushi had proposed specifying exceptions in the law whereby ex-Presidents could be denied protection and financial benefits by the government.

The amendment was rejected despite several MPs of the ruling coalition declaring support for the changes. The law on state benefits and protection for former presidents was the first bill to be passed by the 17th parliament after it convened in May 2009.

Today’s sitting was adjourned by the Speaker at 1.40pm due to disorderly conduct by some MPs. Section 40(a)(4) of the standing orders or rules of procedure grants authority to the Speaker to adjourn a sitting due to disruption of proceedings.

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Nasheed office’s allowance withheld

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad has said that the office allowances payable to former President Mohamed Nasheed have been withheld for the past three months.

Sun Online have reported Jihad as saying that the issue was related to the unknown location of Nasheed’s office.

“We have not received any response to our letters to clarify this. The allowance will resume once they inform us the office location,” he said.

However, when questioned by local paper Haveeru Jihad said that the suspension of privileges was related to a disagreement over whether former president’s were required to conduct charitable activities.

“In reality, the office should be involved in holding social activities. However, the concern of these members is that there is no social work to be seen by the (Nasheed’s) office. It has to be clarified. Hence the financial allowances have been halted for the time being. We still haven’t been provided with the information we sought in relation to the office,” Jihad told the paper.

The paper reported that the current law on the matter states that up to MVR175,000 per month in office expenses can be provided to former heads of state conducting charitable work.

Jihad said that a former Presidents’ Immunity and Privileges Act is currently being drafted and that Nasheed will be allowed the privileges outlined in the eventual legislation.

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