Category: News in Brief

Vice President departs on official visit to Qatar and Kuwait

Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed departed on an official visit to Qatar and Kuwait last night.

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Dr Jameel said the main purpose of the trip was to strengthen ties with Arab Islamic nations.

He added that the government was seeking investments from Arab countries in healthcare and housing as well as assistance for development projects.

Discussions would also take place about establishing an Islamic university in the Maldives, he said.

“In addition to this, we will also talk with these countries about providing budget support to the Maldives,” he said.

The vice president was accompanied on the trip by Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and President’s Office Minister Abdulla Ameen.

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51-year-old sentenced to ten years for child sex abuse

Ungoofaaru Magistrate Court in Raa Atoll has sentenced a 51-year-old man to 10 years after the court found him guilty of sexually abusing a boy multiple times.

The police have issued a statement today following the sentence, identifying the man as Moosa Mohamed Manik, 51, of Bahaaree Gulshan House in Maduvvari Island, Raa Atoll.

According to the statement, he was found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

The police said that Ungoofaaru Magistrate Court sentenced him under the special provisions on perpetrators of child sex abuse.

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MoU signed to extend Fulbright programme

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the United States embassy today to extend the prestigious Fulbright scholarship programme for an additional five years.

In addition to scholarships for graduate studies in the US, the programme also allows for the exchange of US academics to conduct research or to teach in the Maldives.

“Since the Maldives program was initiated in 2003, 21 Maldivians have completed graduate studies in the United States, including at the University of Pennsylvania, Williams College, and at the University of Minnesota.  During that same time, American scholars have taught and undertaken research in Maldives on issues ranging from education to tourism,” the American embassy said in a press statement.

“This renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maldives underscores our commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Maldivians,” Ambassador Michele Sison said at the signing ceremony with Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, who signed the MoU on behalf of the Maldives.

“We are proud to offer an exceptional academic programme that invests in the citizens of Maldives, and allows Fulbrighters to apply their research for the greater benefit of the Maldivian people.”

According to the embassy, more than 325,000 scholars representing 155 countries have participated in the programme worldwide since its inception in 1946, including 40 Nobel Laureates, and 28 heads of state or heads of government.

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Car crashes into military barracks’ gate

A speeding car crashed into the gate of the military barracks near the southwest harbour of Malé last night.

According to police, the 21-year-old male driver sustained head injuries in the accident and received treatment at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

The car was driving along the outer ring road Boduthakurufaanu Magu, veered out of control and crashed into the gate at Kalhuthukkala Koshi.

Both the gate and the front of the car were damaged in the accident.

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Construction of flats for teachers cost MVR62 million: Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education has revealed that MVR62 million was spent on the construction of a ten-storey apartment complex for teachers.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday, Deputy Minister Ibrahim Ismail stated that MVR 36 million out of the Educational Fund of the ministry, as well as a loan of MVR26 million from the Maldives Islamic Bank has been spent on the building.

The ten-storey apartment complex consists of 18 single-room apartments and 62 two-room apartments.

Seventy-five flats are reserved for those who serve as teachers or education development officers. The other five flats are reserved to provide accommodation for visiting educational experts brought in by the Ministry of Education.

Application forms to rent the flats can be submitted from February 16 to March 13. The rent for a single-room apartment is MVR4000, and for a two-room apartment is MVR6000.

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MP Sameer joins Jumhooree Party

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ahmed Sameer has signed up to the government aligned Jumhooree Party (JP) on Tuesday.

According to the JP, Sameer joined the party after it promised him the ticket to contest in Dhihdhoo constituency – a seat he currently occupies in parliament – in the upcoming Majlis elections.

Sameer was initially a member of the JP, but later joined the opposition MDP in 2009 to contest in that year’s parliamentary elections.

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Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka seeks Islam, Dhivehi teachers

The Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka has announced that it is seeking Dhivehi language, Islam, and Quran teachers to teach the Maldivian community living in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

An official of the high commission also stated that they are seeking interested parties to renovate Sosun Villa – the previous building where the High Commission was housed – for the purposes of conducting these classes.

He added that, in addition to classrooms, after renovation Sosun Villa will house a football ground, courts for indoor games, and a hall where cultural Maldivian activities can be held.

“First we are seeking teachers interested in taking these lessons. We will then see how many persons are interested in learning in these classes. For example, if we manage to get enough students to fill three classes, we will need to hire three teachers,” he told local media.

He revealed that the High Commission is aiming to start the classes at the earliest possible opportunity.

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Chinese tourist drowns in Fulhadhoo

A 30 year old Chinese tourist staying at a guesthouse with his wife in the island of Fulhadhoo in Baa Atoll drowned on Tuesday morning.

Police have stated that the man was already dead when taken to the Fulhadhoo Health Centre.

They were made aware of the drowning after his wife had sought help from the island community on Tuesday, mid-morning.

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President Yameen institutes parole board, appoints commissioner of prisons

President Abdulla Yameen yesterday instituted an eight-member parole board under the recently ratified Prisons and Parole Act – he also appointed a commissioner of prisons.

The members appointed to the parole board were Fauziyya Ali from the Education Ministry, Mohamed Rasheed from the Health Ministry, Deputy Counsel General Khadeeja Shabeen from the Attorney General’s Office, Mohamed Shah from NGO Irama Youth Association, Chief Superintendent of Police Abdulla Ahmed, Dr Ahmed Ziyad from the Islamic Ministry, Dr Mohamed Habeeb to represent the medical community, and Dr Shanooha Mansoor as a psychiatrist.

President Yameen also appointed Moosa Asim, of Henveiru Dhiyadhoo, as the commissioner of prisons at the Maldives Correctional Service.

Asim previously served as deputy superintendent at the now-defunct Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service.

Additionally, President Yameen also appointed Abdulla Ahmed, of Dhevinage in Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo, as a deputy minister at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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