Category: News in Brief

Police, army chiefs summoned to 241 committee

Parliament’s ‘241’ Security Services Committee has summoned Police Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh and Chief of Defence Forces Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel to appear before the committee tomorrow.

A motion to summon the security chiefs was proposed by opposition MPs Ali Azim, Riyaz Rasheed and Yousuf Naeem.

Parliament’s National Security Committee was convened last week following the controversial arrest of Judge Abdulla Mohamed. However the counselor general of parliament advised against proposals to summon the security chiefs as it was in the purview of the 241 committee.

Moosa Jaleel has been asked to appear at 1pm and Faseeh at 2pm.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Haveeru hands out sports awards

Haveeru last night issued 23 Sports Awards to players of football, basketball and volleyball.

The Golden Boot award was given along with a cash prize of Rf 20,000 (US$1,297) was given to football player Ibrahim ‘Oppo’ Fazeel. Last season, Fazeel scored 29 goals–one goal more than Ali ‘Dhagandey’ Ashfag.

Ashfag, however, was recognised as ‘best footballer’ with Rf 30,000 (US$1,945) in cash. Fazeel ranked second for the award while Mohamed ‘Bakaa’ Arif took third, each receiving Rf 15,000 (US$972) along with trophies.

Asadhullah Abdullah was named ‘best footballer’ under the age of 21.

In basketball, Ismail Vildhaan Yoosuff won the best male basketball player award under age 21, while Ruleyha ‘Rizy’ Ibrahim won in the female category of the same age group. Mohamed Zilaal was recognised as best male basketball player of the year, and Aminath Shiura won in the female category.

In volleyball, Ahmed Anil Naseer and Hawwa Rasheed won ‘best player’ for the ‘under 21’ category. Ishan ‘Batis’ Mohamed and Suhana Ahmed won ‘best player’ for the game overall.

Awards for best referee and best coach were given to Mohamed Fareed and volleyball coach Can Vanli, respectively.

Ibrahim Ismail received a lifetime achievement award. Ismail is president of the Olympic committee.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

State Minister briefs US envoy on Maldives’ extremist rhetoric

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Aslam Shakir met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State, South and Central Asia Affairs Dr Alyssa Ayres to address the “ongoing extremist religious rhetoric” currently at play in the Maldives political arena.

During the meeting State Minister Shakir highlighted the need for judicial reform, claiming that the current judicial system “has not lived up to international norms and obligations”, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.

Shakir further stated that “powerful, rogue judges” had undermined accountability, effectiveness and independence in the judicial system.

Citing a report from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) released in February 2011, State Minister Shakir specified a lack of standard evaluation mechanisms and the strong lack of transparency at the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

The Maldives government has unconditionally accepted the ICJ recommendations for reform, however the judiciary has yet to formally accept them.

Addressing the pamphlet lately circulated by minority opposition Dhivehi Quamee Party (DQP), termed “hate speech” by the government, the Minister noted that the contents incited religious hatred and violence, particularly against Jews and Christians.

The State Minister expressed concern that the “extremist rhetoric” would lead to Maldives’ alienation in the international community.

Likes(5)Dislikes(0)

Career guidance program inaugurated at MAPS College

Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed inaugurated the MAPS college career guidance program at the college this morning.

In his speech, Dr Waheed congratulated college administration for its achievements in pushing MAPS college to new levels of success.

Making note of the government’s decision to provide higher education opportunities to an addition 1,000 Maldivians, Dr Waheed said the budget for the initiative has been finalised.

President Mohamed Nasheed recently addressed the public on the issue of providing work skills training and job opportunities for young people, who constitute a quarter of the Maldives population.

In the atolls, half the young women and a quarter of the young men are unemployed.

Dr Waheed today emphasised the need for greater career opportunities, and thanked MAPS for its effort to provide career guidance to its graduates.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Sewerage systems available to 80 percent population by 2013: President

President Mohamed Nasheed today announced that 80 percent of the Maldives population of 350,000 will have access to proper sewage systems by next year.

The President spoke today at the official launch of the start sewerage system established in Mahibadhoo.

Modern sewage systems and liquid waste disposals are baseline requirements for public health safety, the government maintains.

When his administration took office in 2008, said the President, only 22 per cent of the people had adequate sewage systems. Over the past three years that figure has climbed to 50 percent, he claimed.

The government is also pursuing projects with international donors to guarantee clean water on islands, particularly those whose reservoirs were contaminated during the 2004 tsunami.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President cancels Malaysia trip over political unrest at home

President Mohamed Nasheed has cancelled a scheduled trip to Malaysia for the International Conference on the Global Movement of Moderates.

The President was scheduled to depart for Kuala Lampur last Tuesday, January 17, 2011.

The trip was cancelled due to ongoing political unrest in capital Male’. Opposition supporters have protested the detention of opposition party members over an alleged “hate speech” pamphlet, as well as the arrest and detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed, for the past six evenings.

Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair has said the President was prepared to address the conference before choosing to cancel his participation.

Finance Minister Mohamed Shihab will represent the Maldives at the conference in his stead.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Delegates discuss maritime security

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the Indian and Sri Lankan delegates in reference to the Trilateral Discussion in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.

Delegates met separately with the President.

The discussions addressed regional maritime security concerns and possible solutions. The President highlighted the need for a regional strategy to address maritime security threats, such as piracy and drug trafficking

In June, international specialists informed Minivan News that following two attacks that month off of India’s southern coast, the Maldives’ waters were notably at risk.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) however has maintained that the Maldives is not under direct threat from Somalian pirates.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Cabinet leases two uninhabited islands for resort development

The Cabinet has decided to lease two uninhabited islands for resort development to the party currently operating Kolhumadulu Thimarafushi Domestic Airport.

During today’s discussion, the Cabinet noted that leasing uninhabited islands for resort development would help recover the cost of developing the airport last year.

The government last year reclaimed 31 hectares of land for airport construction.

Cabinet members also concluded that opening new resorts is also expected to promote industrial growth and increase job opportunities for locals.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)