The Local Government Authority (LGA) has suspended Malé City Council Member Ibrahim Mamnoon over allegations of misconduct.
Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim, who heads the LGA, sent a letter to Mayor Mohamed Shihab informing him that Mamnoon has been suspended without pay for five days.
Nazim did not reveal details of the allegations.
Mamnoon was elected on the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives ticket.
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(0)After resolving contractual disputes with the government, Apex Realty has announced it is prepared to resume work on its Malé housing projects as soon as the agreed amendments are introduced into the contract.
“We are committed to the Maldives project and can start the project within 45 days after the final nod is received from the Housing Ministry and contract amendment is signed,” said Mr Sandeep Ahuja, Director at Apex.
The project – a joint venture between the Maldives Housing Ministry and the housing arm of multinational conglomerate Tata – was agreed under the government of Mohamed Nasheed in 2011.
The combination of commercial and social housing was due to be completed within three years before stalling following disputes with the new government over the terms of the contract.
One of the four sites given to Apex for development was subsequently earmarked by the new administration as the site of a new Supreme Court, leading to reportedly heated negotiations.
“Apex Realty officials have undertaken multiple rounds of meetings with the Economic Council of the Cabinet and the Ministry of Housing to find a mutually acceptable solution to contractual issues,” read an Apex press release today.
The Apex group revealed that it had indicated its acceptance of the revised terms to the Housing Ministry.
“Apex Realty is now waiting for Ministry of Housing to enter into an amendment to the contract to record the modified terms. Apex Realty is willing to recommence the work and finish the project in the shortest possible time.”
(0)Dislikes(0)President Abdulla Yameen and former President Mohamed Nasheed have congratulated India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on winning India’s general elections.
In a message to Prime Minister elect Narendra Modi, President Yameen said he is “elated and has no doubt that India has chosen the most proficient leadership to enter a new era under BJP’s leadership.”
Yameen said the Maldives attaches the highest importance to its relations with India and said he hopes “cooperation between the Maldives and India will further develop under your leadership and guidance in a constructive manner.”
The BJP’s 272 seat win secures it a simple majority in the Lok Sabha. No party has controlled a majority in the parliament since the Congress Party’s 415 seat win in 1984.
Meanwhile, Nasheed in a tweet to Modi congratulated BJP on its success and said he looked forward to “working together for a strong South Asia.”
In reply, Modi said “We value our relation with Maldives & will work towards strengthening our ties further.”
Modi has been accused of doing little to stop communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims. Modi, who was chief minister of Gujarat at the time, has always denied the allegations and was never charged.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Maldives branch of the NGO Junior Chamber International (JCI) has held a training programme in leadership for young people.
The training sessions took place between May 14 -16 at the Society for Health Education (SHE) building, and were aimed at empowering young people to create positive change in their local communities.
The event was organised by the JCI head trainer for Asia region Yogesh Chandak, and was attended by 29 JCI members.
JCI Maldives president Ali Shakir stated, “Such courses will result in increasing Maldivian youth’s capability to stand firm on any global platform,” reported Haveeru.
“The youth has a very good opportunity to go into the world via JCI. This organisation offers to promote those who wish to take on leadership skills and go forward.”
The level of inclusion of youth leaders in the formulation of the current government’s youth policy has been questioned this week by leaders across the political divide.
(0)Dislikes(0)An operation carried out by Police Drug Intelligence and the Drug Enforcement Department has resulted in the seizure of over 3kg of what is suspected of being illicit narcotics that were being trafficked into the Maldives.
A Thai woman and an African woman were taken into police custody in relation to the case.
The police have also searched an inn regarding this case as part of an ongoing investigation.
(0)Dislikes(0)Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu has revealed plans to replace the Dharubaaruge convention center with a new facility.
Speaking with local news outlet Haveeru, Dr Muizzu explained that the ministry’s development plan will consist of two phases – the first involving renovation to the current premises while bidding is opened for a new facility.
This phase is to be followed by the eventual construction of a new convention center on the same site, explained the minister.
“Since there isn’t another place like Dharubaaruge in Malé city, we are trying to renovate the place without closing it down, by dividing the work into two phases. That would make this easier,” he told Haveeru.
The announcement follows the takeover of the facility by the central government earlier this month after repeated wrangling over ownership of the premises over the past two years.
Police moved in to enforce the central government’s reclamation of the premises from Malé City Council after a cabinet decision in late March.
Council members were reportedly told that the government was taking charge of the center as it was not being adequately maintained, though the council – reliant on central government funding – claimed it had not received the requested maintenance budget.
The Dharubaaruge takeover is the latest in an ongoing dispute between the ministry and opposition-dominated council regarding ownership of land in the capital city.
Originally built for the 5th SAARC summit in 1990 — Dharubaaruge is rented out for events, press conferences and private functions.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed handed the center over to the city council with the establishment of a local government system in 2011.
(0)Dislikes(0)A chef and a baker have won the government’s international women’s day Rehendhi Award for exceptional service to society.
Owner of local restaurant Juwey’s Café and chef Juweyria Wajdhee won recognition for publishing 67 cook books and training 12,000 individuals, while owner of Nashee cakes and baker Aminath Nasheedha won recognition for her 27 years of service in the industry.
Meanwhile, local media has reported Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela as announcing plans to increase the number of women in politically influential posts to 33 percent.
The Ministry of Health and Gender said the Rehendhi Award award aims to encourage women’s role in national development.
The winners were selected from a pool of seven applicants. The Health Ministry said all those who gained more than 75 percent would win the award.
(0)Dislikes(0)At today’s hearing of the criminal trial of Home Minister Umar Naseer for ‘disobedience to orders’, his lawyers requested the article under which he is charged be invalidated as being in conflict with the constitution.
The article under which Nazeer is being charged is Article 88 (a) of the 1966 Penal Code which criminalises disobedience to legal orders, in reference to Article 8- (1) of a 1968 law titled ‘Some General Laws’ which limits freedom of expression if it could “disrupt the peace”.
According to Sun Online, Umar’s lawyer Adam Asif said that limitation of freedom of expression is not included in the constitutional limitation given in Article 27 of the constitution.
The only exception to freedom of expression under Article 27 is contravening a tenet of Islam.
Upon request, the judge has provided the State an opportunity to respond to this procedural point.
Naseer is accused of calling for 2,000 volunteers on January 23, 2012 to storm the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) headquarters with 50 ladders during the two weeks of protests sparked by the military’s controversial detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed. He has pleaded ‘not guilty’ for this charge.
On the night in question, Umar told anti-government demonstrators in front of the Maldives Monetary Authority building that they should use tactics to tire out the soldiers on duty before climbing into the military barracks, at which point “the people inside will be with us.”
“From today onward, we will turn this protest into one that achieves results,” Naseer had said.
“We know how people overthrow governments. Everything needed to topple the government of this country is now complete.”
After he was questioned by the police in September 2012, Naseer told the press that “there will be no evidence” to prove he committed a criminal offence.
If convicted, Naseer faces banishment, imprisonment, or house arrest not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding MVR150 (US$10) under Article 88(a) of the current Penal Code.
(0)Dislikes(0)President Abdulla Yameen’s National Security Council held its first meeting on Wednesday.
The council is set up under the Military Act to advise the President on matters relating to national security.
Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim told local media discussions were held on developing facilities for the military and on compiling policies on national security. He declined to provide further details.
The Home Minister, Foreign Minister, Attorney General and Chief of Defense Forces also sits on the council.
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