Category: News in Brief

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded a case for prosecution against former Information Minister Ibrahim Hussein Manik to the Prosecutor General’s (PG’s) office, seeking damages worth US$530,707 for the state.

A statement issued by the ACC yesterday reveals that an investigation into purchases made by Television Maldives in 2000 and 2001 found that the Information Minister “abused his position for undue gain” and violated the state assets and financial regulations.

According to the ACC, the minister sent advance payments on two occasions to Singaporean company Pro-Audio, which went bankrupt in 2001.

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President Mohamed Nasheed called on the public yesterday to renew their commitment to consolidating democracy in the Maldives while “visualising the big picture” on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy.

“To reap the benefits of democracy, we must prioritise empowerment of women in national, political and social matters, strengthen civil society, establish a strong and proper judiciary, and implement measures to ensure respect and trust for judges,” reads the president’s message.

“We must remind ourselves that the development we hope for can only be achieved by inter party agreements on decentralisation and enacting free and fair local and national elections.”

Meanwhile opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, writing in his personal website, accused the government of jeopardizing the country’s nascent democracy.

“Two years on, today, the joy seems to have vanished. Signs of discontent, dismay and frustration are to be seen and heard across the country,” he writes.

“The mixed emotions have strongly skewed towards distrust to the government on its direction, ability to deliver, and above all, the government’s sincerity in safeguarding the democratic principles and promoting democratic values.”

As a result of the “irresponsible” government, he argues, public confidence in a  democratic system of governance is compromised.

“It is a moral obligation of the government to promote democracy and its values and deliver on its campaign promises. DRP shall, in the best interest of the nation, keep on pressing the government to be responsible and will continue our fight for democracy and all its values.”

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Cabinet has decided to place all government-owned companies under a single limited liability holding company, following discussion off a paper submitted by the Finance Ministry.

The government has transferred the assets of many formerly state-run institutions, such as Television Maldives (TVM) into 100 percent government owned corporations. Of the 46 state-owned companies, 33 percent have been transformed into corporations.

The government claims such corporations can run state assets more efficiently in a bid to make the country’s administration leaner. Opponents argue the practice reduces accountability as employees of corporations – government owned or otherwise – are not subject to the oversight of the Civil Servants Commission (CSC).

Cabinet also tasked the Ministry of Housing and Environment to design a project to manage a national electricity grid, in an effort to reduce the cost of electricity through economies of scale and networking islands with cabling, rather than having a generators on every island.

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A 165-foot safari boat under construction at the Alifushi boat yard in Raa Atoll has caught fire, reports Haveeru.

Islanders and police and trying to move equipment from the area, while an islander who tried to extinguish the fire suffered burns and is being treated at the island’s health centre.

Haveeru reported that the fibreglass safari boat, believed to be the largest under construction in the Maldives, caught fire after a short-circuit in the electronics systems.

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