Category: Politics

Hulhumale’ rowhouse fire leaves 14 families homeless

A fire that broke out at Hulhumale’ rowhouse ‘Mashi 3′ second floor at around 11:30 hrs on Friday has left fourteen families homeless.

The government has pledged to house all fourteen families.

While no one was harmed in this incident, a  total of fourteen apartments from ten different buildings sustained various degrees of damages.

The damaged apartments were the second floor of Mashi 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7 and Sandhura 6, 7, and 8. The first and ground floor of Mashi 1, 2 and 3 were also affected. People living in nearby apartments attempted to save as much property as they could as the fire spread slowly across the rowhouses.

The first responders to the scene were the staff of Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Maldives Police Services and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) firemen stationed at the adjoined Hulhule Island. The HDC is responsible for development and management of the island.

A small fire truck and a few MNDF officials in plain clothes worked with help from members of the community for nearly an hour using a basket crane and a single hose to put out the fire.

Firemen from Maldives Airports Company Ltd’s Fire and Rescue Services came with bigger fire trucks and equipment, and started working with MNDF firefighters and member of the community. They managed to control much of the fire by 12:45pm.

MNDF reinforcements from Hulhule’ reached the scene around 1:00pm with more equipment and manpower.

Firemen at the scene were unable to use any equipment at the buildings, which the HDC blamed on vandalism.

Speaking to Minivan News, an HDC official said the the fire safety equipment at all buildings are set up to meet standards set by the MNDF, but were later on vandalized.

There are no routine inspection and maintenance of fire safety equipment, however the HDC has revealed plans to establish an MNDF Fire and Rescue Unit on the Island in 2014.

According to the HDC 14 families will be provided shelter at the newly built flats under the Veshifahi Male’ project. Twelve of the fourteen whom were relocated last night with help from MNDF. All families were provided immediate temporary shelter at Lale’ International School in Hulhumale’.

A cost estimation for rebuilding the row houses will be made by next week, an HDC official told Minivan News.

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Rifts in government coalition over proposed budget

Ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and coalition partner Jumhooree Party (JP) have exchanged harsh criticisms following disagreements over the proposed budget for 2014.

President Abdulla Yameen has said coalition partners must let the PPM decide on the allocation of funds for the state budget.

In response, Jumhooree Party leader (JP) – and third placed candidate in this year’s presidential elections – Gasim Ibrahim has criticized the PPM for its alleged failure to consult the JP in compiling the proposed budget. Gasim’s backing was crucial in Yameen’s presidential win.

He is also the chair of the parliament’s Budget Review committee.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Yameen called on coalition partners to approve the proposed budget, saying “It will be impossible for the government to work for a common goal if coalition partners are to decide upon what amount of funding needs to be included in the budget for separate projects.”

Only the government will know how to draft a budget in the “best interests of the people,” he said, adding that a coalition can only work if there is cooperation within it.

The PPM had promised the JP over 30 percent of cabinet positions, parliamentary seats, and local government seats in exchange for the party’s support in the second round of presidential polls.

Yameen said that coalition members must not view the alliance as an opportunity to guarantee themselves what they want from within the government, nor should it be seen as a chance to bring out whatever number of candidates they wish to compete in an election.

Instead, forming a coalition is in itself an agreement to abide by the decisions of the main party in the said alliance, he said.

It is unnecessary for citizens to know details about a coalition or the agreements about what is promised to each coalition partner, he added.

“To view it with a united mindset and approve the budget we have proposed is the first step that our coalition partners can take to serve the people. There must be unity, or at least sincerity, in our coalition partners. For MDP, or another opposing party, to have opposing views is perfectly acceptable. But if there are to be major differences in the viewpoints of our coalition members, that is not what we made a coalition for,” Yameen said, criticizing members of his coalition.

“If at the initial stages, coalition partners themselves are to stand up and criticize every issue that arises about our proposal, I really do not see how I will be able to fulfill the people’s needs,” Yameen said.

“When figures for expenses are simply written and the budget is passed as such, while knowing it is not possible to get the said funds, and then the government fails to raise the funds written in the budget for specific projects, it is the government who will be held to account by disgruntled citizens. It is not the parliament, nor our coalition members, who will then have to be answerable, but us,” he continued.

The president stated that he or his government would only bear responsibility for unfulfilled pledges and policies if the budget is approved by parliament as it is.

“If the budget is not passed as it is, and multiple changes are brought to it, then I will not take responsibility for not being able to deliver as planned,” he said.

Parliament has scheduled voting on the budget for tomorrow.

Government held no discussion with coalition about budget: Gasim

Budget Review Committee Chair Gasim Ibrahim – who himself proposed 14 amendments to the budget – responded to Yameen’s comments stating that the government has failed to hold any discussions about the budget with coalition partners.

“Despite being a part of the coalition, the government held no discussion whatsoever with us regarding this budget. Proof enough of this fact is the number of amendments I have submitted to the budget. Had they held initial discussions with us prior to submitting the budget, I would not have had to do this today,” he said, submitting his amendments to parliament on Thursday.

“I am both a coalition member and the Chair of the parliamentary committee tasked with budget review. And yet, we have had no suggestions or discussions from the government,” he continued.

Among the 14 amendments proposed by Gasim, he has included a suggestion to add MVR 6 million to the budget of the Local Government Authority, MVR10 million to the budget of the Maldives National University and MVR5 million to the budget of Prosecutor General’s Office, all in a way that does not increase the total amount of the annual state budget.

Earlier in November, Gasim spoke in a party rally about the government’s failure to provide the promised state positions to Jumhooree Party, while adding that it may be due to PPM being “hectically engaged in other government matters” and expressing confidence that Yameen and party leader and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will not “deprive [his party] from benefits”.

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Bill seeks state funds for president’s private residence

Pro-government MP Riyaz Rasheed has submitted a bill to parliament seeking state funds to cover costs at any residence the president decides to live in.

According to the draft bill, if the president or vice president and their families decide to live in a place other than the official state residences, the state must provide funds to hire sufficient staff, cover overhead expenses, and maintain security at the chosen residences.

President Abdulla Yameen has announced he will reside in his personal home, while Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and his family live in the state residence Hilaaleege.

Increased Muleeage budget

Despite Yameen’s decision to reside in his personal home, the allocated budget for the official presidential residence Muleeaage has increased by MVR2 million (USD130,208) in the draft budget for 2014.

The allocated budget for the presidential residence currently stands at MVR19.1 million (USD1,243,486).

Earlier in December, Parliament’s Budget Review Committee Chair Jumhooree Party (JP) Leader and MP Gasim Ibrahim said the increased budget was necessary in case Yameen decides to move to Muleeage.

If Rasheed’s bill is passed, the state will be funding both the president’s stay at his personal residence, as well as expenses for running the unoccupied official state residence.

Highlighting the increased budget for Muleeage, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP and International Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor described Yameen’s decision to live in his personal house as a “symbolic act.”

“Unlike in the past, even media points out inconsistencies in what leaders say and what reality presents these days. I do not believe the public will be deluded about any of this,” Hamid said.

“While Yameen might have thought his decision will get people thinking that he is a humble man, reality is that ultimately, the state is having to spend much more of its funds to maintain this decision of his. People are much more aware now than in previous PPM times. People can see he’s just trying to score political points,” he continued.

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MDP reveals candidates for parliamentary primary

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced the names of candidates competing in parliamentary primaries for 72 out of the 85 People’s Majlis seats.

Candidates for the 13 Male’ City constituencies will be announced on 31 December. Party primaries are scheduled for January 24.

Of the 72 announced today, only a single candidate applied for 22 of the constituencies, therefore winning the party ticket without an election.

They are:

  • Hanimaadhoo constituency -Ahmed Adil (Minister of State for Home Affairs in MDP government)
  • Nolhivaram constituency – Ubaidulla Muaz Kendhoo (Former Secretary General of Jumhooree Party, and ran for Kendhoo seat in 2009)
  • Komandoo constituency – Ahmed Nashid ‘ADK Nashid’. (Former MP and member of constitutional assembly)
  • Funadhoo constituency Abbas Mohamed, M. Aa’alimas
  • Alifushi constituency – Mohamed Rasheed Hussein (Ran for the same seat with an MDP ticket in 2009 as well)
  • Eydhafushi constituency – Hisaan Hussain (MDP legal director)
  • Kurendhoo constituency – Abdul Bari Abdulla (MDP Minister of State for Health and Family)
  • K.Guraidhoo constituency – Ali Shaahin Hussein (Kaafu Atoll councillor representing the same constituency)
  • Mathiveri constituency – Hassan Zareer, A.A.Himandhoo
  • Dhangethi constituency – Ibrahim Rasheed Abubakr, Adh. Maamiligi
  • Mulaku constituency – Ibrahim Naseer, M.Mulak
  • F. Nilandhoo constituency – Ibrahim Khaleel, F.Nilandhoo
  • Th. Guraidhoo – Ali Najeeb, Male’ Dhafthar
  • Isdhoo Constituency – Umar Abdul Razzaq, H. Hiki Finifenmaa Ge
  • Gahdhoo Constituency– Ibrahim Ameer, Gdh Gahdhoo

Among the 22, seven are sitting MDP MPs.

  • For Shaviyani Milandhoo Constituency – MP Ali Riza (Milandhoo MP)
  • Kulhudhuffushi North Constituency – MPAbdul Ghafoor Moosa
  • Kendhikulhudhoo Constituency – MP Ahmed Easa
  • Holhudhoo Constituency – MP Ali Mohamed ‘Alibe’ (Currently representing N.Velidhoo constituency, joined MDP in 2013)
  • Hinnavaru constituency – MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (ibu)
  • Thoddoo constituency – MP Ali Waheed
  • Kaashidhoo constituency – MP Abdulla Jabir

Out of the 174 candidates competing in the MDP primaries, only nine are women.

With the exception of three, all incumbent MDP MPs are competing.

MPs who did not submit their names for primaries are Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Rasheed, Komandoo MP Hussein Waheed and Gaddhoo MP Zahir Adam.

Parliamentary elections will be held on March 22 to elect the 18th People’s Majlis, the second since the democratic transition in 2008.

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State failed to follow majority of February 8 recommendations: HRCM

Independent institutions and the government have failed to implement the majority of the recommendations given by following a investigation into human rights violations during a brutal police crackdown on opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protesters on February 8, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has said.

Even after one and a half years, only three of the 17 recommendations regarding systemic issues have been fully implemented, HRCM President Mariyam Azra said at a press conference today.

The commission has not yet revealed which of the recommendations were implemented fully, or how much of the other specific recommendations have been implemented.

The report dated 28 May 2012 contained a total of 28 recommendations, 14 involving the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and seven involving the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).

Other institutions that the HRCM had proposed recommendations to were Maldives National Defense Force MNDF), the Department of Judicial Administration, Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) and Ministry of Education.

HRCM recommended the the MPS and PIC investigate the “disproportionate” use of force in violation of police regulations . The report also stated that legal action should be taken against the officers responsible for such offences.

Both the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) set up to investigate the transfer of power and the PIC had made similar recommendations regarding the police service.

Members of the PIC have labeled actions of some police officers on February 6, 7 and 8 as crimes and have asked the Prosecutor General to prosecute officers  and recommended Ministry of Home Affairs suspend them.

Meanwhile, more than hundred protesters are being charged with terrorism and obstructing police duty in connection to incidents that took place on the same day.

MDP has called the charges “politically motivated” and demanded they be dropped immediately.

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Tsunami survivors still without permanent housing

President Abdulla Yameen has said 427 families who survived the devastating 2004 tsunami still require permanent housing.

During a speech on the occasion of the National Unity Day – commemorating the impact of the tsunami –  Yameen pledged to provide all families with housing in the next year.

“This government will provide housing for all those who were deprived of it with the tsunami, we will do it in 2014 according to the government’s manifesto” Yameen said.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM)  has said that a number of complaints were submitted to the commission by victims of the disaster in 2013. Among these were twelve cases related to damages to houses, of which five cases have been resolved.

Among them was a case involving the government asking people of Meemu Atoll Kolhufushi Island to repay the funds given for repairing damages to their houses.

The commission had also received complaints regarding lack of permanent shelter, compensation for damages caused to houses  and delays in housing projects.

HRCM President  Mariyam Azra has requested the government to take initiative in providing permanent shelter for those currently living in temporary shelters as soon as possible.

Speaking to the media today, commission member Dr Aly Shameem said he hopes the government works towards consolidating democracy and human rights by formulating an action plan as soon a possible.

“We haven’t seen the new government announcing any major policies to consolidate democracy and human rights yet, but the government have assured their full cooperation to the human rights commission,” Shameem said.

According to the Disaster Management Center, 242 individual victims of the disaster are still living in temporary shelters.

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Budget Committee proposes a MVR 17.96 billion state budget

The People’s Majlis Budget Committee has increased the proposed budget for 2014 to MVR17.96 billion (US$1.16 billion).

The committee added MVR432 million (US$ 28 million) to the MVR17.5 billion budget (US$ 1.1 billion) proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The addition includes MVR260.5 million (US$ 16.9 million) for Public Sector Investment Programmes (PSIP) and a MVR171.1 million (US$11 million) increase to the budget of independent institutions.

The budget deficit now stands at MVR1.3 billion (US$84.3 million). Recurrent expenditure accounts for over 70 percent of the budget.

Budget debate concluded today with MPs proposing an additional 35 revisions. These revisions and the state budget will be put to the vote next week.

Yesterday’s budget debate was suspended after opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs complained of lack of development funds for their constituencies. At the time the total budget stood at MVR17,811,234,380 (US$1.155 billion).

The Budget Committee met last night and added an additional MVR233.4 million (US$ 15.1 million) to the PSIP sector.

Budget Committee proceedings

On 17 December 2013, the Budget Committee added MVR786.6 million (US$51 million) to the proposed budget, resulting in a record MVR18.3 billion (US$1.19 billion) budget.

The increase was for development projects and increasing the budget of independent institutions.

On the same day, Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad said such a budget would be unmanageable and appealed the committee not to increase the proposed budget by more than MVR200 million (US$13 million).

The Budget Committee met again and reduced the budget to MVR17.8 billion. However, with MDP MPs’ objections on Wednesday, the budget was modified to MVR17.96 billion.

Recommendations

The Budget Committee met with Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Ministry of Education, Aviation Security Command, the Maldives Associatoon for Construction Industries, the Maldives Association for Tourism Industries (MATI), the state’s independent institutions and local councils during its deliberations.

According to the budget report, several independent institutions said the Ministry of Finance had reduced their respective budgets and the allocated amounts were not enough to cover wages. The independent institutions also said the budget reductions would affect their ability to carry out their constitutional mandates.

The central bank Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) proposed a raft of recommendations including reducing state expenditure by cutting down the civil service and holding parliamentary, presidential, and local council elections at the same time.

The MMA also called on the Majlis to reduce recurrent expenditure to MVR10.2 billion (US$661 million) and reduce state debt.

Jabir’s recommendations

MP Abdulla Jabir proposed 14 recommendations, which were also included in the budget report.

These include developing a hospitality college to train Maldivian students in order to reduce the number of expatriates working in the tourism sector.

Jabir also proposed increasing state revenue through leasing state land for 99 years, leasing lagoons for residential and commercial purposes, establish free trade zones and introduce off-shore banking, develop aqua-culture and mariculture, develop yacht marinas and ports, establish a international finance center and opening up reclaimed land in Hulhumalé and other islands for development.

In addition, Jumhooree Party (MP) MP Gasim Ibrahim proposed increasing funds for the judiciary while MDP MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor proposed reducing state expenditure by MVR2 billion.

MDP MP Ilyas Labeeb proposed that the government be prohibited from taking out loans with interest rates greater than seven percent, while MP Mohamed Aslam proposed that directors appointed to state owned enterprises be mandated to complete a director’s course.

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Government must reward those who helped win presidency: Yameen

President Abdulla Yameen has refuted allegations that his administration was creating a high number of political posts, but said the government must provide incentives for those who helped him win the presidency.

“We are not creating useless political positions just to appoint persons to them,” Yameen told the press at a Wednesday event in which former President Dr Mohamed Waheed and senior members of his party joined his ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Yameen said members of the ruling coalition were only raised to political positions after the resignation or dismissal of those who currently filled the posts.

“What I want to tell all politicians and citizens regarding this matter is that in reality, it is the work of a united group that made it possible for us to get this presidential term for ourselves. And so even citizens will accept that this government must provide incentives for those who took part in that work and put in responsible work. That cannot be called partiality towards them,” Yameen said.

He went on to say that political positions must be filled with individuals who share the ideology of the government, and who will work to reach the same goals, adding that this must be inclusive of government coalition members.

Yameen pointed out that the coalition would not be complaining about failure to receive jobs if his government was increasing the number of existing positions.

However, he pledged to assign all promised positions under the coalition agreement to all the involved political parties.

He called on those who are currently filling political positions who are not part of the government coalition to leave their jobs and “make space” for those within it.

The current administration has 112 known political positions within the government; 15 cabinet ministers, 3 other ministerial rank positions, 33 appointees at the level of state minister, 50 appointees at the level of deputy minister and 11 high commissioners and ambassadors, as per the President’s Office website.

These 112 positions do not account for presidential appointees to the boards of state enterprises and other institutions.

Government coalition

Besides ruling party PPM, the government coalition consists of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), Jumhooree Party (JP), Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), Adhaalath Party (AP) and Gaumee Ihthihaadh Party (GIP).

With GIP leader former President Waheed and many of its senior members joining PPM on Wednesday, the party council has announced their decision to dissolve the party.

“I have not set any conditions in joining this party, and am doing so as I believe it will be most beneficial for the country at this time. I have neither asked for any political appointment nor have I asked for any share of the government,” Waheed said, speaking to media at Wednesday’s event.

Earlier in December, rumours arose that Adhaalath Party had left the government coalition, after the party announced it will be contesting in the upcoming local council and parliamentary elections separate from the coalition. The party later refuted the claims on December 8, asserting that although they will contest separately, the party fully supports the government. The party, along with a number of state and deputy minister posts, holds two cabinet seats.

On November 26, JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim said in a party rally that the government had thus far failed to allocate the promised state positions to the party, adding that he believed this could be due to the government being “hectically engaged in other government matters”.

“Our President Abdulla Yameen is an experienced man. Maumoon [Abdul Gayyoom, former President and Leader of PPM], too, is a person who has far more political experience than seen otherwise in the history of the Maldives. They will certainly not act in a way which will deprive us of benefits,” he said then.

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Research reveals lack of transparency in Maldives climate finance governance

The “Assessment of Climate Finance Governance in Maldives” report published by local NGO Transparency Maldives (TM) has revealed a number of concerns in climate finance governance.

The report indicates the Maldives has been pledged US$ 99,280,073 in grants, US$ 20,380,000 in loans and US$ 48,506,276 from multi-lateral and bilateral donors, for co-financing projects from 2008 through 2015.

Projects focus mainly on mitigation, adaptation and capacity building, and cover a wide range of areas from waste management, conservation, water resource management to education and development of renewable, clean and sustainable energy.

It was conducted as part of the “Climate Finance Integrity Programme” piloted by Transparency International in six countries to monitor the raising, managing and governance climate related finance.

TM noted the need for increased transparency in the decision making process, including the selection of islands for different projects to allowing civil sector groups to monitor and review priorities.

According to the report, project locations are prioritized by implementing agencies such as Ministry of Energy and Environment without the involvement of donor agencies.

As the criteria for island selection is not visible in any records, “there is a strong incentive for political maneuvering in island selection,” the report said. This issue is not specific to climate change projects but seems to be the general trend, it added.

Transparency Maldives has proposed the establishment of a clearly identified and comprehensive climate policy and strategy to “ensure selection of projects is aligned to strategic goals and not to personal or political gain”.

The NGO also took issue with the constant reorganization of decision making bodies, their members, hierarchy and mandates, arguing “in cases of institutional changes it is important to disclose the hierarchy of decision-making processes, mandates and who is responsible for overseeing the work of each committee.”

The report also noted “serious concerns” in the availability of accurate and up-to-date information on projects and their progress. The public is said to have no access to a comprehensive list of climate projects at present.

A government website isles.egov.mv created in 2009 to increase transparency is still being managed by the President’s Office instead of the central monitoring agency, the Office of Programmes and Projects (OPP), as planned. Further, the website is not regularly updated, the report said.

Discrepancies in available financial information of projects from different sources was also reported. “It remains a challenge for ordinary citizens to gain access to information from the Government of Maldives with many restrictions included in accessing information,” the reported said.

Another issue highlighted was insufficient external monitoring of climate change projects, mainly because of the shortage of information reported to the OPP.

Due to this, the reporting of monitoring and evaluation of climate projects is done solely by the implementing agencies such as the ministry.

Donors must encourage project reporting to a national monitoring agency to increase transparency and public access to such information, the TM said.

Weakness in oversight was also mentioned in the report, referring mainly to the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC).

Donors have limited access to some AGO documents due to language barriers, while implementation of recommendations in audit reports are not followed up until the next audit, the report said.

No complaints concerning climate finance have been lodged to or investigated by ACC, however, the ACC has provided recommendations on instances where inefficiencies could risk corruption. But the report found the  ACC also does not monitor the implementation of their recommendations.

The assessment highlighted that it was “not clearly evident” whether the parliament reviewed or analyzed reports submitted by independent institution or the OPP, as no such reviews have been published.

TM has proposed a number of recommendations for specific parties involved in climate finance governance, and plans to conduct a more in-depth governance assessment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy – the institution which receives the largest portion of climate finance projects.

The report can be downloaded from here.

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