Category: News in Brief

President Yameen abolishes Transport Ministry

President Abdulla Yameen has abolished the Ministry of Transport and Communication last week and transferred its functions to other ministries.

According to the President’s Office, “regional airports will be under the administration of the Ministry of Tourism, Transport Authority will come under Ministry of Economic Development, and Communication Authority of Maldives will be administered by Ministry of Home Affairs.”

In the wake of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives severing its coalition agreement with the Jumhooree Party last month, President Yameen dismissed Transport Minister Ameen Ibrahim from the post.

Ameen had been appointed to a cabinet slot assigned for the JP under the coalition agreement signed between the parties ahead of last year’s presidential election run-off.

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CSC statistics show 40 percent of civil servants paid less than MVR 5000

Statistics published by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shows an estimated 40 percent of civil servants are paid less than MVR 4999 (US$ 324).

Of the 24,742 civil servants, 9,914 are paid up to MVR 4999, while the large majority (14,380) are paid between MVR 5000 and MVR 9999 (US$ 648).

Only 373 civil servants are paid between MVR 10,000 and MVR 14,999 while only 75 are paid above MVR 15,000 (972).

A majority of civil servants are employed in administrative work (7,495) and as teachers (7,036).

The Education Ministry and Health Ministry employ the largest number of employees at 9,860 and 7,405 respectively.

Statistics also show women outnumber women in the civil service. There are 11,655 women and 8,858 men.

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INIA passes inspection to remain part of EU supply chain

Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) has been awarded ‘Regulated Agent from a third country’ status (RA3) by the EU, meaning that it can continue to act as part of the supply chain for imports into the European Union.

RA3 three status means that INIA will be able to continue to receive air cargo en route to the EU after July 1st, when new regulations will require all EU cargo to be transported through an EU validated supply chain.

The new EU procedures follow the October 2010 attempt to sabotage two planes travelling to the EU from Yemen.

“This is a huge milestone achieved as Maldives exports tons of Cargo EU countries every month,” read an MACL press release.

A small ceremony was held at the cargo department today after a three day validation process. The official report was handed over to MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Saleem by the EU aviation validator Sander De Man.

“MACL has brought major infrastructure changes to the cargo facility and had done mandatory trainings to adhere to the EU required standard,” added today’s press release.

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‘Fete de la Musique’ in Malé this Saturday

The Alliance Francais will hold its annual music festival – the ‘Fete de la Musique’ – in Malé this Saturday (June 21).

The free event, first held in 1982 both amateur and professional musicians to perform, is celebrate in over 100 countries around the world on the same day.

French indie pop duo Bel Plaine will be appearing alongside local artists Project Sasquatch, Scarlet Rite, and Mixmaster Iguana in Malé City Hall on Majeedhee Magu between 9pm and midnight.

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Yameen receives credentials of Thai and South Korean ambassadors

President Yameen has today received the credentials of both the Thai and South Korean ambassadors.

New Thai Ambassador ‎H.E. Nopporn Adchariyavanich discussed the furtherance of fisheries, agriculture, and trade ties between the two nations.

During his meeting with President Yameen, new South Korean Ambassador H. ‎E. Chang Won-sam was told of the importance of South Korean investment in the Maldives.

The South Korean ambassador discussed enhancing, tourism, trade, and training ties with the Maldives, sending the good wishes of President Park Geun-hye.

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Civil Court reinstates Villimalé Safe Beach Project

The Civil Court has ordered Malé City Council to reinstate a beach-cleaning contract made with Save the Beach.

The council terminated the contract on September 23, 2013 on the Anti Corruption Commission’s (ACC) recommendations. The ACC claims undue advantages were conferred in awarding the contract to Save the Beach.

The commission has also asked the Prosecutor General to press corruption charges against two former Malé City Councilors and three council staff who were involved in vetting applications for the project.

However, the Civil Court today ruled the ACC does not have the power to order a contract be terminated as per a previous Supreme Court ruling.

Under the Vilimalé Safe Beach Project, Save the Beach won a contract to keep the Vilimalé beach area, jetty, and lagoon clean in exchange for two beachfront plots of land to establish businesses to sustain the project.

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Expatriate port worker injured in Malé

An expatriate worker has been injured at Malé commercial harbour, local media have reported.

Police informed Sun Online that lorry driver was injured during an accident between his vehicle and container lifting machinery.

Two port workers were killed in April after a crane snapped while loading a container onto a ship.

The Ministry of Transport has announced an infrastructure and operations audit for of all commercial harbours in the the country after port workers claimed authorities had failed to address their safety concerns.

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MACL deny jet terminal outsourcing rumours

Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) CEO Ibrahim ‘Bandhu’ Saleem has denied reports suggesting plans to sell the private jet terminal at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

“We are not aware that such discussions have taken place even. Our company has definitely not conferred on selling of the jet terminal or any other business with our share in it,” Saleem told Haveeru.

Saleem’s comments come in response to a press release from tour operators organisation MATATO earlier this month, expressing concern over rumoured plans to outsource both the terminal and aeronautical services facilities.

Saleem said he had no idea where the rumours had come from, though he told Haveeru that discussions at the government level were nothing to do with him.

MACL is a 100 percent state-owned company governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the president of the Maldives.

Prior to MATATO’s statement on June 11, Minivan News had learned that the cabinet’s economic council is currently discussing a deal with billionaire Thai businessman William Heinecke.

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Nasheed’s lawyers called to High Court

Lawyers representing former President Mohamed Nasheed have been summoned to the High Court to confirm statements made in relation to the Hulhumalé Magistrates Court case.

Nasheed had asked the court in April to expedite proceedings after the case stalled over twelve months ago.

Haveeru have today reported that lawyer Hisaan Hussein to sign previous statements in the case, whose introduction called to a halt Nasheed’s prosecution for the January 2012 detention of Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

Judge Abdulla’s arrest sparked three weeks of anti-government protests in January, leading to Nasheed’s eventual resignation on February 7, 2012.

The case filed by Nasheed’s legal team challenging the legality of the magistrate court bench was stalled after the Judicial Services Commission suspended the judge presiding over the case pending an investigation a disciplinary matter.

During the hearings held at the High Court, the JSC contended that the High Court did not have jurisdiction to rule on the case as the panel of judges presiding over Nasheed’s trial was appointed based on counsel from the Supreme Court

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