Category: News in Brief

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.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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.”

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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).

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

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.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Former ‘Mr Maldives’ wins unfair dismissal case

The Civil Court ordered the Maldives Police Service yesterday to reinstate Constable Husham Hameed to his post after the former ‘Mr Maldives’ was fired last year on suspicion of sexually assaulting a young woman inside a police car.

According to newspaper Haveeru, Judge Aisha Shujoon ruled that the police disciplinary committee’s decision to dismiss Husham was both inconsistent with section 24(b) of police regulations and disproportionate to the alleged offence.

The judge added that the committee’s action against Husham violated his rights under articles 37 and 38 of the constitution, ordering police to reinstate Husham within 15 days and pay his lost salary and allowances in 30 days.

The three other police officers dismissed along with Husham – Corporal Mohamed Fayaz, Corporal Ali Nasheed and Chief Inspector Risheef Thoha – have ongoing unfair dismissal cases at the Civil Court.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Treasury Bills debt stands at over a third of annual budget: report

Government debt accrued through the sale of Treasury Bills to banks and commercial enterprises in the country is estimated to be equivalent to more than a third of this year’s Rf12bn national budget, according to Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) figures.

Haveeru has reported that at present, Rf5bn of debt has been generated through the MMA’s sale of T-Bills, which are sold frequently to national businesses at interest rates recently set around 4.57 percent, 5.34 percent and 5.53 percent.

According to the report, Treasury Bills have been sold by the government since September 2006 initially as a short-term attempt to settle outstanding national debt.  An estimated Rf1.3bn is expected to be raised through the sale of T-Bills under the current national budget.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)