Author: Minivan News

DRP Leader in court with PA Deputy Leader

Main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali’s lawyer told the Civil Court Thursday that his client was ready to settle a disputed Rf1.92 million (US$149,400) debt to coalition partner People’s Alliance (PA) Deputy Leader Ahmed Nazim, reports Haveeru.

At Thursday’s hearing, Thasmeen’s lawyer however argued that Nazim’s lawsuit was politically motivated as “the friendship between them is gone and they have become enemies.”

Deputy Speaker Nazim’s lawyer refuted Majority Leader Thasmeen’s contention that the loan was used to finance the 2008 presidential campaign, claiming that Thasmeen needed the money to repay a bank loan.

In early 2010, before he took over the DRP leadership, Thasmeen was sued by PA Leader and potential presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen to recover US$100,000. The case was eventually settled out of court.

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BML Chairman grilled by shareholders

Bank of Maldives (BML) Chairman Adam Manik was grilled by irate shareholders at a general meeting held last night to elect two new members to the national bank’s board of directors.

New BML CEO and Managing Director Peter Horton and Adam Azim, M. Seenukarakaage, were elected to the board.

According to newspaper Haveeru, Adam Manik declined to reveal the amount of dollars released to BML daily by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) in response to a query by a shareholder.

The Chairman said however that the bank has undertaken efforts to increase the supply of US dollars, including issuing loans in rufiyaa to be paid back in dollars.

Adam also told the 21 shareholders in attendance that efforts to collect outstanding loans dating back to 2008 were proceeding slowly due to legal obstacles.

A damning audit report published in January 2009 by the country’s first independent auditor general revealed that BML had granted loans in 2008 in excess of 40 per cent of the bank’s reserve of unimpaired capital – above the ceiling advised by the MMA.

The BML audit report alleged financial fraud and corrupt practices on a large scale, including issuing loans on the basis of political influence.

The report noted that the two largest loans, Rf577 million (US$45 million) and Rf459 million (US$36 million), were issued to Sultans of the Seas and Fonadhoo Tuna Products respectively.

The two loans amounts to 13 per cent of the total loans given by the bank in 2008. Neither loan has been paid back to date.

While the latter company is owned by opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, Sultans of the Seas is reportedly a family business of the opposition leader.

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Entertainment not the solution: Youth Minister

The government’s policy to solve problems facing Maldivian youth is not to provide more entertainment facilities but to spur job creation and encourage gainful employment, Youth Minister Hassan Latheef told press yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference at Dharubaaruge convention centre, Latheef said that the government did not believe that the “primary task of youth is entertainment,” adding that a steady income would lead to a more stable life.

A recently concluded survey of 24,000 businesses in Male’, Viligilli and Hulhumale’ revealed that there were over 1,600 unwanted jobs in the Greater Male’ region.

The results of the survey will be published on the ministry’s web site next week.

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HRCM calls for new laws to strengthen healthcare

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) called on the government today to formulate new legislation to strengthen and monitor health services delivery in country.

In a statement issued on the occasion of World Health Day the commission noted the lack of adequate laws to regulate the health sector as well as difficulties in enforcing existing regulations.

The delivery of health services in the country need to be developed, it continues, while stronger monitoring mechanisms should be established to protect the rights of citizens, particularly as the government’s policy was to privatise the health sector.

Among the “required basic legislation” include a public health law, a food and drug law and medical negligence or malpractice law. These laws, the HRCM notes, “are needed right now.”

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Expatriate hospitalised after mugging

An Indian national was stabbed in the back and robbed of Rf10,000 (US$778) in cash by two men on a motorcycle at around 11:00am this morning near the Artificial Beach in Male’.

Local media reports that the Indian man, Augustin Raj Elias, was attacked in Henveiru Roashanee Magu while he was on his way back to the Plaza Textile shop where he is an employee.

An employee at the shop explained to newspaper Haveeru that the victim was returning from the bank after changing Rf500 notes, adding that the perpetrators must have tailed him from the bank.

The employee said that Raj had been taken to the operation theatre in the afternoon and his condition was improving.

Eyewitnesses meanwhile told local media that a security camera at the nearby PC World shop must have caught the incident.

While the number plates had been removed from the Yamaha motorcycle, eyewitnesses said, the two men had not covered their faces for the daylight robbery.

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Public Accounts Committee “destroying” economy: DRP MP

An amendment proposed by minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP Ahmed Nazim to the Pension Act of 2009 allowing MPs to opt out of the retirement pension scheme is intended to “destroy the economy”, opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Abdullah Abdul Raheem claimed at parliament yesterday.

“At a juncture when the country is facing an economic tsunami and we’re trying to save ourselves [from it] this amendment has been proposed here today, by those in the Public Accounts Committee who know very well what the economy is, with the intention of destroying the economy,” said Abdul Raheem (pg 83).

Raheem added that MPs’ participation was needed to ensure the success of the fledgling pension system.

Deputy Speaker Nazim’s amendment, backed by most MPs of the ruling and opposition parties, would also allow the President, Vice-President and Justices of the Supreme Court to opt out of the retirement pension scheme.

Concluding the debate, Nazim, who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), revealed that 34,000 government employees had already joined the pension scheme while an additional 25,000 private sector employees had submitted applications.

Nazim argued that exempting 86 persons would not affect the success of the scheme. The amendment will be put to a vote at the next sitting on Monday.

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Violent extremism “urgent challenge” in South Asia, says US Admiral Willard

Violent extremism is among the most pervasive and urgent challenges in South Asia, US Pacific Command Commander (USPACOM) Admiral Robert Willard has told the US Congress’s Armed Forces Committee.

“Violent extremism is associated with a wide-range of activities, which include supporting insurgencies that seek political autonomy and fomenting conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan as a means of spreading radical Islamic ideology,” Zeenews reported Admiral Willard as saying.

The US was endeavouring to work with Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India to particularly contain Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani-based extremist organisation responsible for the attacks on Mumbai.

“LeT involvement in the November 2008 attacks on Mumbai, India, validates India’s concerns regarding terrorist threats originating from outside India. Significantly, LeT deliberately targets westerners and specifically engages coalition forces in Afghanistan,” Willard said.

“Consequently, USPACOM continues to expand its relationships with host-nation militaries and CT agencies to increase regional capacities to counter this threat,” Willard said.

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Political parties to decide amendments to Privileges Bill

Political parties represented in parliament will discuss amendments to the controversial MPs’ Privileges Bill vetoed by President Mohamed Nasheed in January, MP Riyaz Rasheed told press yesterday.

Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz, chair of the committee reviewing the vetoed legislation, explained that representatives from the main parties would meet to discuss the 14 points noted by the President before agreeing upon possible amendments.

At yesterday’s press conference at parliament, Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim, a member of the committee, insisted that none of the contested provisions in the bill were unconstitutional.

Gasim said that the legislation was framed after considering privileges afforded to MPs in other counties of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU).

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JAICA completes eight harbours, three sewerage systems

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) has completed eight harbours and three sewerage systems in islands devastated by the 2004 Asian tsunami.

The infrastructure was officially handed over to the government at a ceremony held at Dharubaaruge (convention centre) yesterday to mark the completion of the projects, which began in July 2009.

Harbours were built and repaired in Shaviyani Funadhoo, Thaa Dhiyamigili, Laamu Isdhoo, Laamu Fonadhoo, Gaaf Dhaal Dhandhoo and the capital Male’.

Sewerage systems were established in Baa Eydhafushi, Shaviyani Funadhoo and Meemu Muli.

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