Category: News in Brief

Faafu Atoll Council Chair resigns

Idhrees Abubakur, chair of the Faafu Atoll Council, has resigned from his post and as a councillor.

Sun Online reports Idhrees, who represents the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as saying that he resigned because of a “serious matter,” which he would reveal in the near future.

An unnamed MDP councillor however insisted that Idhrees resigned because of an impending no-confidence motion against him. The ruling party has a majority on the Faafu Atoll Council.

Idhrees had previously survived a no-confidence motion by a narrow margin.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Thasmeen warns DRP councillors against helping PPM recruit members

Main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has warned that the party’s island and atoll councillors who help the newly-formed Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – led by former DRP ‘Zaeem’ or Honorary Leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – recruit members will be dismissed from DRP.

Thasmeen told MNBC One today that the party’s charter outlined procedures for disciplinary action against members who violate the charter or party rules and regulations.

PPM Spokesperson MP Ahmed Mahlouf told local media last week that the party would seek to amend the Decentralisation Act to allow councillors to quit their parties without losing their seats.

Thasmeen however said that the law should not be changed merely because it puts the newly-formed party at a disadvantage.

The Decentralisation Act was passed in a completely partisan vote after MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) walked out in protest of the high number of councillors and the committee decision to scrap province councils in the original draft legislation.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Electronic voting to be introduced in 2013

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided to introduce electronic voting for the upcoming presidential election in 2013.

The decision was made with unanimous support of the five members on the commission.

The EC said in a press statement today that the commission would make recommendations to parliament to amend elections laws to allow use of electronic facilities.

A task-force is to be formed shortly to formulate plans to obtain the facilities, build public confidence and raise awareness.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MIRA begins GST registration

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has invited Goods and Services Tax (GST) payers to register with the authority before September 30.

The GST bill passed last month comes into force on October 2 following its ratification by President Mohamed Nasheed on September 2.

Businesses that offer goods and services worth over Rf1 million over the course of a year would have to register to pay the GST.

Registration forms are available from the MIRA website.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Hanimaadhoo women take over council office

A group of women on the island of Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaal Atoll have taken over the island council office in protest on non-payment of six-months worth of wages for sweeping and cleaning the island.

Haveeru reports that the women gathered outside the council office yesterday and stopped anyone from entering. After leaving the area late in the afternoon, the disgruntled women together with some youth on the island blocked the three gates of the council office this morning.

Hanimaadhoo Council Chair Abdusalam Ali said he was allowed to enter the office only to send a message to the Finance Ministry.

He explained that the women were owed a total of Rf150,000 (US$10,000) as remuneration for six months. The protestors meanwhile insist that they would not leave the office until they were paid.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Thilafushi lagoon cleared of floating garbage

The lagoon of industrial island Thilafushi has been cleared of floating garbage to allow vessels to enter and dock at the harbour without difficulty, reports Haveeru.

According to a statement by the Thilafushi Corporation yesterday, the cleaning effort was proceeding apace and the corporation expected the lagoon to be completely cleared this week.

The corporation explained that garbage was floating freely because of spillage from barges discharging garbage at the island.

The Male’ City Council’s waste management section has informed the corporation that it would be monitoring garbage disposal at Thilafushi, the press statement revealed.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Thulhaadhoo by-election cancelled

The Elections Commission (EC) has cancelled a by-election it announced in July to replace a Thulhaadhoo councillor after the High Court ruled that the dismissal of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Councillor Umaira Abubakur was unlawful.

Sun Online reported that EC Chair Fuad Thaufeeq confirmed the by-election scheduled for September 20 has been cancelled.

Umair, the sole DRP representative on the five-member council, was dismissed by four Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) councillors after she ostensibly failed to attend ten consecutive meetings, six of which were emergency meetings called in her absence.

Umaira was reportedly participating in a training programme for newly-elected councillors.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Hotline counseling for public after Huraa drowning

The Health Ministry has established a counseling hotline for those traumatised by the drowning incident at Huraa last Friday.

Four grade nine students and the principal of Hiriya School drowned during a Fisheries Science snorkeling trip last Friday. Principle Ali Nazim drowned trying to rescue Nash-ath Saeed, Mariyam Naza, Aishath Saniha, and Mariyam Shaiha from a strong current off of Huraa island.

Deputy Health Minister said the Education Ministry requested a free counseling service on the day of the incident, and the hotline became operative on Saturday.

Counselors, administrators and volunteers for the hotline are based at IGMH hospital, where the victims were brought on Friday for examination. Hospital CEO Cathy Waters said, “the hotline is for anybody affected by the incident across the community, especially family, friends, school staff, the teachers on the trip, and IGMH staff who were involved in the case at the hospital.”

Deputy Health Minister Lubna Mohamed Zahir Hussein told Minivan News that the hotline has been heavily used since it went into effect. She estimated that over 50 people are involved in the service.

Lubna added that there is no end date for the hotline. “These things need to be settled slowly,” she said.

The hotline is open from 8 am until 10 pm, on 3010005.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President says Maldives must become carbon neutral at keynote address in London

President Mohamed Nasheed has said the Maldivian people are directly affected by climate change, and steps should be taken to achieve carbon neutrality.

In his keynote address at a London dinner hosted by the Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice (MRFCJ), the President noted that the Maldives sat just two metres above sea level. He said that the low elevation makes the country vulnerable to natural disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami.

Nasheed also noted that over 70 Maldive islands have contaminated water supplies due to sea salt intrusion, and supplying desalination systems to all islands has doubled state expenditures.

Nasheed advocated for a deeper understanding of the climate, and urged stronger preventative measures against climate change.

Reducing carbon emissions was one key solution. Nasheed also urged his audience to develop a legally binding climate agreement.

Nasheed said the Maldives should replace fossil fuel with solar power and other renewable sources of energy as part of its commitment to reaching carbon neutrality.




Likes(1)Dislikes(0)