Author: Minivan News

Shaheeb Consultancy journalism course commences

A 10-day journalism course conducted by Shaheeb Media Consultancy commenced this week with 60 students, reports SunFM.

The course, run by the consultancy firm in collaboration with MNBC One and Maldives Polytechnic, aims to offer an instruction in basic journalism and writing skills as well as information on the challenges faced by the burgeoning free press in the Maldives.

The students, most of whom recently completed their O’ Levels, are charged a course fee of Rf2,500 (US$195) to enrol.

Shaheeb, CEO of the first media consultancy firm in the country, explained that the course is intended to help school leavers choosing journalism as a profession to kick-start their careers.

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Maldives Customs Service celebrates 120 years of operation

The Maldives Customs Service yesterday celebrated 120 years of operation at a special function at the Dharubaaruge exhibition hall in Male’.

The event, attended by Vice President Mohamed Waheed, was held to commemorate the work of Customs officials in the country as well as to launch a Strategic Plan from next year that will outline the department’s work up to 2013.

Alongside playing a ‘big role’ in matters of national security and drug prevention, the Vice President also claimed that the expansion of the service to a number of regions around the country has been a vital contributor to wider development issues, particularly in terms of the economy.

Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister for Home Affairs Mohamed Aswan, acting head of customs, said that promoting public confidence in customs services and “improving the public image of customs” would be a main priority in the coming year.

According to local daily Haveeru, Aswan said that a number of reforms will also be made to change procedures, apply risk management principles in all sectors and introduce information technology facilities.

Aswan revealed that changes will be made in valuation for import duties when a customs bill currently before parliament is passed to adhere to valuation agreements with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Established in 1890, Maldives Customs currently has over 700 staff in eight regional offices. It became a member of the World Customs Association in September 1995.

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MDP concludes primaries for Male’ city council

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) conducted primaries in the capital yesterday to choose its 11 candidates for the Male’ city council.

Provisional results show that Male’ municipality president ‘Sarangu’ Adam Manik received the most number of votes in the primaries.

The winning candidates from yesterday’s primary who will contest on the MDP ticket for the local council elections on February 5 are ‘Maizan’ Ali Manik for Hulhu-Henveiru, Lufshan Shakeeb for Mid-Henveiru, Mohamed Abdul Kareem for Henveiru South, Mohamed Afrah Haleel for Galolhu North, Adam Manik for Machangoalhi South, Mohamed Aiman for Maafanu South and Arham Hussein for Vili-Maafanu.

The rest of the candidates – Abdulla Shafeeq for Galolhu South, Ahmed Samah Rasheed for Maafanu North, Mohamed Falah for Maafanu West and “Jambu” Hassan Afeef for Machangoalhi North – ran uncontested.

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Taliban factions “rub shoulders with the jet-set and dodge women in bikinis”: BBC

The incredible natural beauty of the Maldives, its blue waters and warm welcome are not only a main attraction for honeymooners, sun-worshippers and divers – they also seemed to go down pretty well with the rather different visitors from Afghanistan, writes Daud Qarizadah for the BBC.

“Afghanistan is land-locked and for many of those present, this was the first time they had seen the sea. Some had never even left Afghanistan before.

“One first-time delegate in the Maldives said: “It is a beautiful Islamic country and the scenery is amazing.” Another delegate who was also there for the first time added that he “wished Afghanistan would become as peaceful as the Maldives one day”.

“As soon as the delegates arrived at their hotel in Paradise Island, the contrast was striking. They had to hold talks just metres away from where women in bikinis were sunbathing or had just been swimming.

“Whenever the delegates encountered women in bikinis, they turned their eyes away in order to avoid becoming sinful by looking at half-naked women. This was a difficult situation for some to cope with – especially for those delegates who want women to wear the all-covering burka.”

Read more

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Police appeal for witnesses to ambulance accident

The traffic police have requested those who witnessed an accident in which an ambulance collided with a 25 year-old man at the intersection of Orchid Magu and Chandaanee Magu over the weekend to come forward.

According to police, the ambulance was driving with its siren sounding en route to an emergency pickup.

The man sustained injuries to his head, face and arms in the collision and was taken to Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police said the most accurate witnesses would be persons on vehicles waiting at the intersection of Orchid Magu and Chandanee Magu.

Police requested all persons who had information on the case to contact the police duty officer on 988 8999, or traffic police number 333 3835 or the police toll-free number 119.

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Vice President inaugurates Counter Terrorism workshop

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed yesterday inaugurated a Counter Terrorism Workshop organised by the government and the British High Commission.

The President’s Office said that it was a two day workshop that began in Aarah yesterday, and aimed to develop a counter terrorism strategy for the Maldives and share experiences on the topic between the Maldives and the United Kingdom.

”There is nothing more important than creating and maintaining a peaceful environment for the people in our country,” said Dr Waheed. ”The Maldives is not exempt from the risks associated with international terrorism.”

He also said the threat of terrorism was affected every country in the world and highlighted the importance of making counter terrorism strategy an integral part of the national security policy.

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State requests extension to respond to Yameen civil suit

The state has requested an extension in the civil suit brought by MP Abdulla Yameen against the Maldives Police Service for unlawful arrest, claiming that it is awaiting a report from the Supreme Court of its verdict on a related case, reports Haveeru.

The Supreme Court ruled on June 29 that Yameen’s arrest on charges of alleged bribery and attempting to overthrow the government was unlawful.

At the second hearing of the case on Sunday, Yameen’s lawyer Azima Shukoor, a former Attorney General, argued that the absence of the Supreme Court report was not justifiable grounds for failing to answer to a civil suit.

Judge Aisha Shujune adjourned the hearing after scheduling the case for November 29 and told the state attorney that it would be the final opportunity to respond.

While the lawsuit did not specify an amount for compensation or damages, Azima argued at the last hearing that the arrest was in violation of articles 47(b), 45, 46 and 48(a) and that the claimant had to spend Rf61,005 on strengthening security at his residence and Rf668,950 on lawyer’s fees. In addition, the claimant also claimed to have suffered emotional and psychological distress during the arrest, which took place while an angry crowd was protesting outside his house.

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Participants take part in Salaf ‘Hijra’ camp

A ‘Hijra’ camp set up by religious NGO, Jamiyyath-al-Salaf, took place last week on Thinadhoo in Vaavu atoll in order to try and keep young people from ‘sin’ as well as extending Islamic knowledge through a combination of workshops and activities.

Costing Rf300 per person, Haveeru reported that the camp, which ran between November 18 to November 20, took in 60 participants for a combination of prayer and workshops overseen by Sheikh Adam Shameem Ibrahim. Ibrahim also delivered a sermon at the event.

Participants between 17 and 25 years of age that stayed at the camp were also invited to engage in water sports, fitness regimes and leadership training, according to Salaf, which told Haveeru that it aims to hold similar camps in the country soon.

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Parliament resumes with cabinet endorsement on the agenda

Parliament continues to debate endorsing the reappointment of cabinet this morning as some opposition groups pledge to block any and all appointments, an issue that has immobilised the legislature with forced cancellations over the past month.

Voting on the cabinet issue is due to take place at the end of today’s sitting. The outcome will be covered by Minivan News as it happens.

During the 20-minute debate, opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla declared that the party would not vote to approve any ministers.

“We have decided not to approve any of the ministers that resigned,” he said. “Whether [the issue] is sent to committee and brought back or any other way it is done.”

PA’s coalition partner, main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), meanwhile has an undisclosed list of ministers it intends not to approve.

MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) continue to insist that the issue should be sent back to committee or removed from the agenda until parliamentary rules of procedure can be amended. These amendments relate to a Supreme Court ruling invalidating a provision allowing presidential nominees to the cabinet to be interviewed by committee.

MDP MP for Madaveli, Mohamed Nazim, said today that the Speaker cancelled previous sittings to seek a compromise between the two main parties, but “to this day I am not aware that any solution has been found. My parliamentary group leader has definitely not informed me that a particular solution has been found after discussions.”

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