Category: News in Brief

PPM schedules Funadhoo island “mega-rally” for Thursday

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has been campaigning across Shaviyani Atoll this week ahead of attempts to hold a “mega-rally” on the island of Funadhoo on Thursday (June 27).

PPM MP Ahmed Nihan has said that a delegation including party presidential candidate MP Abdullah Yameen and his running mate Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed had so far campaigned on six islands in the atoll as part of the week-long trip expected to conclude Friday (June 28).

He said that MP Yameen has been travelling door-to door to meet voters and discuss his plans for economic development should he be voted president during September’s election.

Nihan added that the PPM had pledged would to put a high priority on economic development in Shaviyani Atoll, which he said lacked a regional airport that had in turn limited the local population’s access to the capital and other population centres.

He said that the party was already seeking to negotiate with the government for new resort developments in the atoll to facilitate jobs and economic growth to aid local development.

Nihan said that Funadhoo has traditionally been seen as a stronghold in terms of support for PPM founder and former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s former party, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) – now led by MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

However, he claimed that during the visit, a large number of islanders had expressed support for Gayoom and the PPM, which he founded in 2011 after breaking away from the DRP.

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MDP MP Jabir claims MVR 77 million in compensation for arrest

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP and businessman Abdulla Jabir has filed a case against police alleging that his arrest damaged himself and his family, and claimed MVR 77 million (US$5 million) in compensation.

According to local media, the first hearing into the case was held at the Civil Court yesterday where the state attorney told the court that no court of law had declared that the arrest was unlawful.

Media reported that Jabir’s wife, former Attorney General and SAARC Secretary General Dhiyana Saeed, acted as his lawyer.

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Anil Adam appointed new deputy tourism minister

Anil Adam has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the President’s Office has announced today.

Adam will replace Mohamed Maleeh Jamal, who was dismissed as deputy tourism minister by the government last week at the behest of his former party, the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP).

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President appoints Judicial Adminstration Spokesperson as his JSC representative

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has appointed Judicial Administration Spokesperson Latheefa Gasim as his representative on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

A statement from the President’s Office said Waheed presented the letter of appointment to Latheefa Gasim this afternoon, after she took an oath of JSC membership administered by Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Areef.

Waheed’s previous representative, Mohamed ‘Reynis’ Saleem was removed from his post last week following a police investigation into his alleged use of gangs for the purposes of extortion.

The lower courts threw out a police request for a warrant to arrest Saleem, a decision which was upheld by the High Court on appeal.

The JSC is the watchdog body charged with overseeing the professional and ethical conduct of the judiciary, and has faced sharp criticism both locally and internationally over its lack of independence and politicisation.

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Police cooperative society to sell shares to officers

The Police Cooperative Society (Polco) has announced sale of shares in the company to police officers at MVR 100 per share ahead of a deadline of June 30, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) said in a statement this week.

Police officers were first invited to purchase shares in Polco on March 29, the anniversary of the MPS. The deadline was then extended by the board of directors of Polco to June 30 after a meeting on June 16.

According to the press release, Polco was set up in accordance with the Police Act to improve the welfare of police officers.

Since the controversial transfer of presidential power on February 7, 2012 in the wake of a violent mutiny instigated by officers of the Special Operations (SO) command, 1000 police officers were promoted, 110 new police officers were hired, a housing scheme was introduced for police officers with 300 flats to be developed in Hulhumale’, arrangements were made for cheap accommodation in Sri Lanka for police officers and their families and a loan scheme was set up for police officers.

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More than 9,000 registered poor in Addu City

More than 9,000 people are registered as poor and eligible for Zakat (alms for the poor) in Addu City this year, according to a statement by the Addu City Council.

The council revealed that the number of registered poor in the southernmost atoll was 9,101 persons out of a population of 31,000.

The Islamic Ministry earmarked MVR 4 million to be distributed as Zakat at a rate of MVR 450 per person in Addu City this year.

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Elections Commission invites observers, monitors to register

The Elections Commission (EC) has invited representatives of political parties and private organisations to register as election observers and monitors before a deadline of July 23 for the presidential election scheduled for September 7.

According to an announcement by the EC, interested individuals who do not apply on behalf of a party, association or NGO should not be a registered member of a political party.

Media outlets wishing to monitor the presidential election were also invited to submit applications to the EC.

Application forms are available from the EC in Male’ and election focal points in the atolls.

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Gasim pledges to establish National University faculties in each atoll

Government-aligned Jumhooree Party (JP) presidential candidate and business magnate MP Gasim Ibrahim has pledged to establish a faculty of the National University in each atoll of the Maldives.

According to newspaper Haveeru, Gasim said at a campaign rally on the island of Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaal atoll last night (June 23) that he would upgrade the National University faculty in the island and open a Villa College campus should he be elected president in September.

Gasim is the chairman of the Villa Group of businesses, which includes resorts, a domestic airline, a cement packing factory, gas providers and retail outlets. Gasim is also the owner of private broadcaster Villa Television (VTV), which airs extensive coverage of the JP leader’s presidential campaign.

Speaking in Thinadhoo, Gasim meanwhile pledged developing the island’s hospital to match the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in the capital Male’ as well as building an indoor sports center and an artificial beach.

He also pledged to upgrade the regional airport in Kaadedhoo to an international airport, after which additional resorts and city hotels would be developed in the southern atoll.

A Villa gas and cement factory would also be opened in the atoll in his presidency, the MP for Alif Dhaal Maamigili reportedly said.

The inter-atoll ferry service established by the previous government would function reliably under a JP government, he added, and would be overseen by island councils with government subsidies.

Among Gasim’s other pledges made during campaign visits to islands include building an international dock yard in Haa Alif atoll, expanding the previous government’s Aasandha universal health insurance scheme to allow Maldivians to receive medical treatment for free in India and Sri Lanka and establishing Villa College campuses across the country.

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Hulhumeedhoo law faculty inaugurated with 39 students

A law faculty jointly established by Villa College and the Maldives Law Institute in the Hulhumeedhoo ward of Addu City was officially inaugurated today.

According to local media reports, the faculty was officially opened at a ceremony this morning by Villa College’s Office of the Rector’s Director Dr Ahmed Ali Manik.

Attending the ceremony, former Attorney General Husnu Suood reportedly said that courses would begin today with 39 students from Addu City, Fuvahmulah and Faafu atoll.

The faculty presently offers a foundation course in law and a certificate three in criminal investigation course.

A certificate course on land law tailored for serving magistrates would commence in September, Suood said.

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