Day: January 10, 2007

Dozens of sharp weapons were confiscated from a shop in Male’ on Thursday evening for fear gangs may use them, the Police said.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Police revealed they had impounded 37 swords and 267 daggers found in the storeroom of Radium Hardware in H. Radiumkokaa.

According to the Police, the blades of the daggers measured 14 inches, while the the swords measured 26 inches.

The owner of Radium Hardware, Mubarik Moosa, said on Saturday the daggers that had been found in his shop had been cleared by Customs and had been on sale to the public for “a long time”.

“The daggers are ornamental and a lot of people who like to display such things buy them,” said Moosa. “Recently, a lot of ‘paateys’ (drug users) have bought the daggers. We don’t know what they use them for.”

The police are still investigating, and have released little other information.

But they have said the blades were seized during a “special operation” being conducted in response to recent gang violence in the capital. So far, police say nine people have been arrested in connection with the disturbances across Male’.

The most recent trouble is believed to have been sparked by two incidents: the beating of a thirteen-year-old boy, hospitalised in early December, and an attack on a man at Trends restaurant on 17 December.

The attacks sparked retribution and violent acts throughout the night of the 17 December. Armed gangs were seen roaming the streets with swords, knives, bats and other weapons.

The police have been heavily criticised by the local press and public for not taking action sooner but authorities insist they did everything in their power to stop the violence. They have since increased police patrols.

Police Spokesman, Corporal Shiyam, says the violence is the result of long standing gang rivalries.

During the recent violence, many gang members, who are thought mostly to be under 18, have been seen carrying weapons such as swords and knives.

Although the Police have started confiscating such weapons from retailers, there are several souvenir shops in Male which still have such items for sale.

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More than a hundred drug rehabilitation workers may lose their jobs or be transferred to another department as the government privatises its services.

Until now the state has been in charge of trying to get drug addicts clean, but under new plans, a joint American-Maldivian company will take over. Currently 180 workers are employed at the Himmafushi rehabilitation centre in North Male’ Atoll, but an inside source who wants to remain anonymous in order to avoid being sacked, claims the American company involved has said it will only employ 60 people. The company made the claim in its proposal to the government on the takeover of rehab services.

That means 120 people’s jobs now hang in the balance. What happens depends on a meeting between the government’s National Narcotics Control Board (NNCB) and the directors of the new company, due to be held in the next two weeks. Employees may either be sacked or transferred to other posts.

The new private scheme for rehabilitating drug addicts at Himmafushi was launched on Tuesday morning at a press conference at the NNCB headquaters in Male’, which was attended by two bosses of the private company and the head of the NNCB, Dr. Abdullah Waheed.

The private company assuming control of drug rehabilitation services in the Maldives is called DiameriCENAPS®. It is a joint American – Maldivian venture and works for profit.

Another source close to the company, who also wished to remain anonymous to avoid government recrimination, told Minivan several cabinet ministers have a stake in the business. But Dr. Mohamed Shafiu, a Director of the company, denies the claims. He says it is owned and run by three men; himself, local businessman and tourism mogul Mohamed Fahmi and American health guru, Terence T. Gorski.

Mr. Gorski is President and owner of the CENAPS® Corporation. He is also part-time Professor of Humanics – the study of human nature – at Springfield College in America and has written dozens of self-help books offering advice on subjects ranging from love to drug addiction.

He describes himself on his website as an “internationally recognised expert on substance abuse, mental health, violence, & crime.” His company is described as “a consultation and training firm that specialises in alcoholism, drug dependence, and mental-health services”.

The Drug Rehabilitation Centre on Himmafushi Island in North Male’ Atoll will now become home to all rehab services outside Male’. Its work will initially involve retraining staff to work under a new “science –based addiction treatment,” known as the CENAPS® Model, which offers a new approach to help drug addicts recover.

Under the new scheme, “enforcement programmes” will be used “to mandate treatment under the special presidential decree”, according to the company. That will mean some convicted drug users will be forced to undergo 90 days of treatment, possibly against their will. The government insists the 90 days will simply give drug users “time to think”.

Previously, the state had used a different system which established something called a “therapeutic community” to get addicts clean. It now acknowledges that the scheme has not worked. The number of former addicts who go back to taking drugs, known as the ‘relapse rate’ remains very high in the Maldives. Mr. Gorski describes drug addiction in the country as “an epidemic” and says 75% of the current prison population is in jail for a drug-related offence.

The government and the NNCB will continue to work closely with organisations such as Journey, a group founded by former addicts which helps people to recover from drug problems and runs an after-care centre in Male’.

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