Category: News in Brief

President Nasheed meets with IMF mission

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission to review the economic recovery programme yesterday afternoon at the president’s office.

Members of the IMF mission were reportedly “very pleased” with the government’s fiscal and monetary policies. They “hailed” the government’s efforts to keep the budget deficit under control without printing extra money.

The President thanked the IMF for their continued support for the economic recovery of the country. IMF Executive Board approved a loan of USD 92.5 million last December to assist the economic recovery programme.

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Employment Tribunal Regulation published in government Gazette

The Employment Tribunal Regulation was published in the Government Gazette yesterday.

The Employment Tribunal Regulation states procedures of revising and adjudicating employment matters, and other matters to do with the functioning of the Employment Tribunal under the Employment Act.

The Employment Tribunal aims to examine and adjudicate legal matters which might arise in the workplace between employers and employees, as well as other matters ascribed to the Tribunal, in an expeditious and simple manner.

The Tribunal has full authority to review and adjudicate employment matters as it deems fit in observance of the Employment Act.

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Uz Adam Mohamed Abdulla appointed as a Judicial Service Commission member

The President appointed Uz Adam Mohamed Abdulla as a member of the Judicial Service Commission yesterday. He was elected by other judges of the High Court to serve as a Judicial Service Commission member.

There was a special ceremony at the President’s Office yesterday, where President Nasheed presented Uz Adam the letter of appointment for his new position.

President Nasheed urged Uz Adam to fulfill the member’s responsibilities in establishing justice.

Uz Adam said he would try his best to fulfill the responsibilities and to strengthen the work of the Judicial Service Commission within the boundaries of law.

Uz Adam took the oath of office before the Supreme Court Judge Abdulla Areef.

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Pakistan to support Maldivian agriculture

Pakistan has offered to support the development of agriculture in the Maldives by offering agriculture courses to students and expressing interest in the import of rice, fruit and garments to Pakistan.

Miadhu reports that Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, met with the Maldives High Commissioner Shehenaz Adam and proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the potential for trade between the two countries.

The Maldives is keen to diversify its economy, as it is almost exclusively dependent on the tourism and fishing industries

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Cabinet discusses establishing permanent quarantine facilities and international airports and sea ports

At a meeting yesterday, the Cabinet discussed the importance of establishing permanent quarantine facilities that measure up to international standards at international airports and sea ports in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Family presented a paper on the matter, which highlighted the importance of establishing permanent quarantine facilities.

In a situation of a pandemic disease, infected passengers could be more effectively quarantined, said cabinet members. They agreed that having a permanent facility would eliminate the need for temporary facilities every time there is a pandemic outbreak.

The Ministry of Health and Family, along with the National Disaster Management Centre, are now in charge of producing a paper on how to set up these facilities, and to make the necessary arrangements to establish them.

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Vice President says improving standard of education is top priority

Vice President Mohamed Waheed said improving the standard of education was a top priority for the government, speaking at the 25th anniversary assembly of Jamaluddin School yesterday morning.

Speaking to the students, he urged them to be obedient and strive for excellence, assuring them that the government is working to improve the standards of education.

He spoke of the importance of good behaviour and social discipline, and said the school environment should facilitate extracurricular activities.

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President Nasheed supports arms embargo on Myanmar

President Nasheed has voiced his support for Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta’s call to place an arms embargo on Myanmar/Burma until Aung Sang Suu Kyi is released.

At a joint press conference held on Sunday, President Nasheed said he was “encouraged by the process of engagement that is underway” for the release of Suu Kyi, and hoped she would be released before the next presidential elections in Burma later this year.

This follows the recent meeting President Nasheed had with the new Burmese Ambassador to the Maldives, U Ohn Thwin, to whom he voiced his concerns about the continued imprisonment of Suu Kyi.

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Fahumy to sign with MDP today

Miadhu has reported that former DRP MP, Alhan Fahmy, is to sign with MDP today.

Fahmy was suspended from the DRP after voting against his party line late last year, and had said if he were to join a new party it would “most likely be MDP, as they have the best internal democracy.”

Miadhu reports that many of his supporters, will also make the move to MDP.

Fahmy signs to MDP on the same day his former party commences its congress.

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President Nasheed addresses the nation on National Day

In his speech early this morning of 15 February, President Nasheed celebrated the Maldives’ National Day by addressing the nation at a special ceremony held at Jumhooree Maidhaan.

The President said the Maldives has a long and proud history of freedom, and its history of independence was among the longest in the region. He also said it was a time to look back at the history of the country and consider the challenges that lie ahead.

The President made a special mention of Mohamed Thakurufaanu, the hero of the National Day. He said it is necessary to look back at the wars and struggles that were fought in the past, which signify the freedom Maldivians have today.

The national flag was hoisted at Jumhooree Maidhaan, and throughout the streets.

The ceremony concluded with a special supplication.

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