President Mohamed Nasheed has dismissed Minister of Trade and Economic Development Mohamed Rasheed from his post.
Rasheed belongs to the Gaumee Iththihaad Party (GIP), the same party as Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who has publicly voiced criticisms of the government and recently led a political rally to boost support for his party.
The President’s Spokesman Mohamed Zuhair said Nasheed has made the decision “based on the existing political realities on the ground.”
“It is nothing personal against the economic minister, and nothing to do with his performance,” Zuhair emphasised, although he noted that a likely outcome would be restructuring of the Ministry to be more “result-oriented”.
The decision to remove Rasheed from cabinet was made over the weekend but announced this morning, he said.
Meanwhile, staff at the ministry were “in shock” this morning, reported Permanent Secretary Yousuf Riza.
“[Rasheed] is no longer coming to the office, but the Ministry will continue to function,” Riza said.
“We will continue issuing trade and investment permits, however the Minister’s dismissal will hamper decisions about policy.”
DRP Spokesman and Deputy Leader Ibrahim “Mavota” Shareef meanwhile claimed the dismissal was because of the “obvious friction between the President and his Vice President. I heard [Rasheed] was dismissed because he was asked to sign with the ruling party and refused.”
“Rasheed is one of the most qualified people in the government, and he has been dismissed for no apparent reason. As long as a minister does his job properly there is no reason to dismiss him,” Shareef said.
“I think this is very sad this is happening. We might be the opposition party but we do not have any ill will towards the government.”
Amid speculation that Rasheed’s removal was due to the icy drop in temperature between GIP and MDP, a senior government source suggested it was more likely that the dismissal was part of a “larger picture – something to do with [MDP’s] declining support in the Majlis to the point where it has become ineffective. They need support.”
The recent scuttling of MDP’s provinces bill in parliament is a sore blow to one the party’s key pledges, the decentralisation of government.
No replacements have yet been put forward: “The president has time before choosing a new minister to put forward for parliamentary approval,” Zuhair claimed.
Mahmoud Razee, currently Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications, is one potential candidate, given his proven palatability with parliament and work on the privatisation committee. Razee was promoted to his current role after the dismissal of another minister, Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.
However, MDP Spokesman Ahmed Haleem revealed that the party had begun talking to the People’s Alliance (PA), currently in coalition with the opposition DRP, seeking the party’s support in passing a new economic minister through parliament.
“DRP are always against us and they have control of a lot of the media,” Haleem said. “But [PA leader] Abdulla Yameen has some commitment to the people – he was trade minister in 1998, he is an economist and he is well educated. I think he is OK.”
The Maldivian economy was sorely troubled “and a lot of people are suffering very badly and are very poor,” Haleem said. “[MDP and PA] have the same goal, we want to stabilise the economy and we are looking for support. Yameen’s seven members could support the parliamentary approval of a new minister.”
Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan declined to comment on the matter, and Mohamed Rasheed did not responded to calls at time of press.
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You are the weakest link. Goodbye!
Good move. Ministers of ministries who do not perform should be changed. President should consider changing Housing ministry as well. We have been dreaming of flats, and so far no sign of that.
It is time for the president to make difficult decisions!
MDP saying yameen will be OK? thats shame and with the government strengthing ties with extremist and whahabi adhaalath party and giving into extremist demand and MDO to say yameen one of the most corrupted and notorious during the time of maumoon is now ok!! is simply equal to mohamed nasheed and MDP has failed and should resign and have a proper ceremony to handover presidency to DRP to save time from another election
Excellent decision, by the president to remove those who are not performing people should be measured in what they do instead of what they say, trade minister was all talk and no Action, I have heard that he even spent the money reserved for scholarships of the staff of Ministry, to travel to fairs abroad, i guess the recent soft loans by the trade minister is an excellent example.lets hope the country moves on are able to get things done, hip hip hurray for those who work and down with those who only talk......
Mr. Mavotaa Shareef, are you kidding me? "Rasheed is one of the most qualified people in the government" Huh? The minute they sacked him, he because the most qualified human being ever to walk on the face of Earth? What kind of a stupidity is this? All this time it was the opposite!!
Mr. Mavotaa Shareef, are you kidding me? “Rasheed is one of the most qualified people in the government” Huh? The minute they sacked him, he became the most qualified human being to ever walk on the face of Earth? What kind of a stupidity is this? All this time it was the opposite!! You moron!
If Rasheed and his party is not inline with government's privatization policy etc. he should resign or should be sacked. good move. President Nasheed. Go ahead with your vision and mission
Fired Mugabe style, without offering any reason for dismissal. Now know that your own ministers are also at the receiving end of your "nulafaakan". Well done President Nasheed.
What utter joke.A man who promised everything under the soil to grab power,a man who ridiculed Qayoom to win support,is doing every dictatorial and power hungry act of Qayyoom.Clearly shows the man and the party has failed.
Excellent move by president Nasheed and a good sign for Dr.Waheed and his party too. Now President Nasheed need to sack State minister Ilyas Hussain as he and the GIP secretary general Toppy are the most critical of the government policies and trying to make a political deal with DRP for Dr.Waheed. Remember we need ministers who can bring results for people not just Havard university 2 degree holders or UN job experience international civil servants! We need real political-educated people who love this nation more than the ego's and the fame! We need people who are impatient to bring out reform not who just want political post's! We need people who dislike to bring family politics as Gayoom did and Dr.Waheed (look at his party political post's). We need politicans who are thirsty to change the mind set of Maldivians for the "other Maldives" not those who think,,"in our government we would reform"!!! President Nasheed..two salutes for you today! Hope you would sack some other minister including those from MDP who are not performing! Time is running out..!
a minister cannot criticize the government while being in the position of a minister. and he was clapping while VP Maafannu Fili Waheedhu was dancing against Government on the stage!
Good move. This guy Rasheed is a smooth talker. No results and very proud person. Why does everyone jump about this. How often have we seen this happening in previous regime as well. Waheed Deen, Musthafa Luthfy and many more...
Next should be Tourism Minister! he is not doing good enough, and one more, Housing Minister, also the Finance Minister
Yamin is not ok. I know DRP is doing everything against the government without regard to what is good or bad and it is utterly difficult to get anything meaningful done specially given that the first thing to sort out any area is passing the necessary legislations in an infant democracy.
It still does not warrant a deal with Yamin. MDP risks defecting all its supporters if they go with Yamin.
”I never knew that Abdulla Yameen was so religious,” Haleem said. “Maybe in the future we will see him at the mosque with a long beard and short trousers.” haha making the pact with the devil himself. I would like to see your face after partnering up with the most corrupted group of politicians as claimed by MDP. Funny how things change Maumoon brought in Yameen to stop he rot at second round which resulted in him losing.Now 2 years on MDP needs Yameen to stop the rot. pathetic,unbelievable,
some one pleas ask sappe to remove all the articles about Yameeen. So this is democracy at its best. Where can we buy this washing machine that cleans all the dirt, wipes out corruption and give us born again clean politicians so easily.
“DRP are always against us and they have control of a lot of the media,” Haleem said. “But [PA leader] Abdulla Yameen has some commitment to the people – he was trade minister in 1998, he is an economist and he is well educated. I think he is OK.”
http://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/2010/03/15/deputy-speaker-of-parliament-pleads-not-guilty-to-conspiracy-to-defraud/
wash it real good.
People like Yamin, Nazim, Jabir needs to clear up their sins, Jabir repent and joined MDP he is cleared. Now its time for Yamin and Nazim to become angels...LOL, they have a choice? if they want to escape the wrath of HEP, they will have to either join and support MDP or leave the country for good
So, The President's Spokesman has said directly that the removal of Rasheed from office is in no way related to his performance as a Minister - but rather "political realities."
Let me also point out that Rasheed, the VP, and GIP are 100% behind the national development framework emphasized in the MDP Ithihaad Manifesto. Though we may not support massive privatization as a party, we signed on to put forward the Manifesto that GIP endorsed during the campaign and have stuck by our commitments even when MDP has not stuck by theirs.
Furthermore, Rasheed was one of the most capable Minister's in the Cabinet, though his expertise is actually in Health Care Development, having spent over a decade in senior positions with WHO.
its already a one man show ..i prefer him to sack the whole cabinet
My Suggestion:
1. Get Adaalath on board. MDP gets support of the religiously mentally unstable
2. Get Yaamin onboard. Less Opposition and can pass bills through the parliament more easily
3. Get Gayyoom onboard as political advisor, replace Zaki and defame him for his time with Gayyoom, call names like 'Raafulhi Raajaa' or whatever.
Can Rename MDP new coalition to MDRPA, combine and make one single party
Alas.. We will have a 100% positive parliament. Can amend the constitution from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.. Or do whatever they prefer. And we will see comments from the Yellow Blind hardcore supporters stating "Nice Move", "Desperate times calls for desperate measures", "Anni, you are the best"..
Sounds great dho Anni... :).. I think I deserve the post of Political Advisor more than Afeef does.
I am ashmed to be a member of MDP when the spokesperson changes the tone to any, but this: “DRP are always against us and they have control of a lot of the media,” Haleem said. “But [PA leader] Abdulla Yameen has some commitment to the people – he was trade minister in 1998, he is an economist and he is well educated. I think he is OK.”
Refering to the poor economic situtation, he is saying “[MDP and PA] have the same goal, we want to stabilise the economy and we are looking for support. Yameen’s seven members could support the parliamentary approval of a new minister.” - Who is Haleem to say this? On what grounds do they have the same goal? on which government policy? The economy is as bad as today because of the lousy spending spree from the previous government. As a member of the MDP and also a fan of this Government, I cannot bear to listen to this junk. What nonsense is this.
Desparate measures in desparate situations are sometimes ok, but you don't exchange your moral grounds. Maybe politics is ineherently immoral!
“It is nothing personal against the economic minister, and nothing to do with his performance,” Zuhair emphasised...If he is incompetent, sure fire him by all means but are you kidding me? If its not personal & nothing to do with his performance, then what is the big bad secret for his sacking?
& Yameen, a person who is corrupt, behind a lot of political turmoil & who turned against his own brother at first opportunity even though Maumoon gave him whatever power he had, is suddenly "ok"? Is this for real?
So now MDP thinks Yameen is not corrupt anymore? What a sad mess this country is... Jokers
Love zuhair's comment “It is nothing personal against the economic minister, and nothing to do with his performance,” then what...? lack of tolerance of this govt to criticism!
If the government wants to become 'results oriented' it should think of Min of Housing Transport and Environment where nothing gets done..
I do agree that Razee is the most competent for the job...he is committed and efficient and knows how to manage a ministry. the others like Aslam talk big but has no clue how to make decisions, manage people and run a govt!
This is a good decision... The Economic Ministry was not performing to standard and so its good that the Minister has been removed. I'm happy that the article mentions Mahmud Razee might be the potential Minister there as he is recognised as being very capable in this field.
It is very simple to get economy back on track. Stop bringing expatriates, this might hamper service industry for a while but with proper Human resource development it will improve. And control on money to bring all money flow under one umbrella and start giving soft loans to small business to come up. Give import licenses only for local importers who do not have other business like Resort owners. Reduce the civil servants to relief the budget. These lay off will seek employment in privet sector where the opportunities will be open once expatriates are reduced
May be this is a Ministry that is not required anymore.
Why not reallocate its functions to other Ministries..
Its high time the government settle down. So far we have seen turmoil. Either a top political appointee will resign or he will be fired by the government or he will be sacked out by the parliament.
How can anyone run a country with this kind of crap going on? When will the government have time to deliver anything to the people?
Now we are hearing about a coalition with PA? So Yameen has suddenly become not corrupt? Why was he pulled to the commission then?
If Yameen is 'ok', I think Gayyoom is also 'ok.' I think MDP should seriously consider borrowing the Zaeem from DRP.
What a joke?
What will happen to Yameen's dream of becomming the president? If MDP forms a coalition with PA, Yameen will know of all the faults and failures of MDP from close range when he stand for presidency. I guess MDP is now desperate. A win for PA though!
MDP needs to reshuffle. They need to have the congress now and remove Rico Moosa and Maria from their posts. The bad name we are receiving is because of these 2 incapable people. Rico definitely has to go before this government collapses before 2013.
What MDP needs now is to bring Sheik Ilyas for the economic ministry. I don’t see why Ilyas cant run the ministry as there is also a dentist running the fisheries ministry.
@ahmed aslam and Saleem,
Do you guys even understand or know what dictatorship means? Under our new constitution and separation powers, President has the authority to fire ministers. This doesnt mean he is mugabe or a dictator. Do your research guys before you open your mouth
President Nasheed is running out of ideas. He is on the verge of going crazy. I think good alternative for President Nasheed would be Thimarafushi Musthafa or Machangolhi MP, Kubey.
Yameen is NOT OK. Period. I am MDP and I will not subscribe to the view that Yaameen is OK. I want to know what MDP Qamee Majlis has to say about this rather than Dhonbiley Ahmed has to say.
If what Dhonbiley said was meant to be representing MDP as a party then let me say this to him "Not in my name".
It is time all engagement, marriage and honeymoon bills be paid, well wishes said, hugs and kisses be given to all attendees who are non supportive or supporting and or non delivering!
It is time to get hardy and fresh edible stock aboard and start the rough journey ahead of us!
Put together a "good governance system" as soon as possible!
There is much this government can do perhaps risky and at a high cost!
Do not let capitalism and vandalism reign at the end of the day!
There are good people in the country who given opportunity and shown the right way, will do a lot more to the country rather than fill up their pockets and deplete the coffers!
No doubt that Yamin has proved past few months in Maldives politics, he is a strong power, and also he is well educated and a good strategist. I dont think there is any reason Yamin to join Nasheed now as he is struggling to cope with a minority government in the verge of collapse. For Nasheed now the options are getting limited day by day. My opinion the best option for him now is to call for a mid term election as soon as possible. If he loose that will be good for Maldives, because no one can become better activist than him to make government responsible. Today when he is the Government he dont understand how to govern and take responsibilities.
Dear Dhonbileiy Ahmed,
Atlast you are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel for your hard work. It is no surprise or coincidence that your family Company got attractive contracts from STO for loading/unloading and others while the VERY OK YAMEEN was at the helm of STO.
Also we were witness to your various "YAMEEN VIDHAALHUVI" messages to Anni as early as when Anni was under house arrest in Manaal for "stealing" from Velaanaage.
So from then on we have very closely seen your efforts to sell THE MORE THAN OK YAMEEN to Anni.
Atlast, success is, I believe is within reach - Well done Dhonbileiy.
MDP is digging its own grave... Its gonna be before the end of this term that Yaamin will bring them down..
Remember: Yaamin is from Sicily. He Never Forgives and He Never Forgets..
goodness. what pray tell is going on?
A minister has the right to be critical of government policies, esp when it is a coalition government. Cabinet huvaa kuranee raeesul jumuhooriyya ah wafaatheri vaanamey kiyaafatha?
Anni has a 25% mandate from the people. There are many levels at which answers can be given- at level zero, this can be said to be a "confidence building" measure; on the other hand people would have to know what that means to realize anni hopes for people to think that he is indeed serious about economic reforms. Or, this actually destroys "confidence" that people should have in government. he.he incompetent ministries once. incompetence always.
basically it also boils down to the rift valley between Waheed and Anni & co. ... there are of course other answers as well.
The elite Club within Anni's 25% government is slowly achieving their objectives- securing the future of Big Business, esp for the new entries into the rich club. For instance, the "reforms" that Tourism laws have undergone. The scale of this conspiracy and the extent to which the population has been robbed is quite impressive, but that's beyond the point for now, for it is always the tendency of Power to consolidate at the most opportune moment. Those who have profitted from the change in government is not unknown, but hardly the issue for now. What is relevant from the citizens perspective should be (emeehunge visnun thandhenee evarrah) what does the average maldivian get from the "MDP" led 'coalition' being in power. This might perhaps be a bit overwhelming for many readers, but there is a lot more dirt. The move to engage in consultation with Yameen kalyge, as i once suggested, is important at many levels. Anni as an individual, i can say now, is planning his exit strategy as well, but such an exit does not mean the policies laid down by this government will be erased. There is a gold rush to acquire as many island for resort development by individuals and companies/ organizations, to acquire as many government development projects/initiatives.... such deals are signed without the likes of reeko or even mavota knowing.
Yameen is of course in the thicket of it, he is no less thirsty for a taste of power and money again. His rhetoric is however quite firmly rooted in the elitist-who-knows-what the aammu fellow wants. Having said this, his design for presidency is no less incompetent than any other candidate out there.
Lets 'see what the outcome will be from this cabinet reshuffling. There are many dogs loose in government, to radically reform the economy they should be jailed or brought to a negotiating platform( negotiate is me being polite). An International Debt financed economy is just beating around the bush.... 'nuff said for now.
who the fok is thasneem? Get out of these Haruge's all these 'raiiyaththunge politicianun' and propose whatever maybe the economic and social models they think best to transform these scum islands. The people are too retarded to participate in a political process, beyond making noise anti or pro.
MDP the Party with its Reeko Moosa's etc are loyalists who are outside this intra-gov consultation process- they are there to make noise in haruge, so that the public is kept engaged in this political circus. Within DRP there is real political clout, save perhaps Yameen & co.. even he is bankrupt.
Hassan Saeed is not ready to Lead, he however can spare many a fellow with the necessary know-how to 'service' the diesel engines of sarukaaru, therefore he also must make a deal.
He will not be allowed to become the president-for-life archetype alone. It is fair to say however that much of the population is eying him and his party.
The aamu dhivehi, who is outside this 'liberal' 'cocaine snorting 'middle class yola' crowd is tired. They wish to see calm on the streets, they want better wages, they want better health care, they want a more disciplined god fearing society, they want better crime laws, they want better housing, they want a rent regulation law, they also want things which the Maldives as an island nation cannot achieve anytime soon- this being the limit of peoples expectation with government delivery.
While the rhetoric of political parties is rooted in addressing such concerns of the lowly dhivessa, the actual rhetoric within government is quite different and aligned towards investment for themselves, while not missing out on elections. It was quite easy to foresee how MDP would fail the parliamentary majority and from their what needs to happen.
There must happen a coalition, genuinely geared to turning round this country for the better. There must happen radical changes in the way government thinks, there must happen draconian reforms within the private sector, there must happen controversial land acclamation, there must happen forced population consolidation, there must be no more than two or three major inhabited islands in Maldives ( Maale, Hulhumaale plus perhaps fuvammulah), all other islands should be evacuated. Difficult decisions have to be made even if people resist; there should be people who know what is best for the whole, there can be no consensus if the know-hows and the 'bewildered' are to debate (ingey meehaa, kiyaivgen huri meehaa dhakkaah vaahak nukiyavahuri jaahilu aammu jeheyne ahan- of cos who has the right to claim who is which is a rather difficult matter in this climate. Everybody is an america that knows whats best; there comes a time when its better to listen and follow instead of arguing). There is much detail that can be given.
There are also many 'external elements' who will engage in such a radical reformation consultation. It must be planned in order to achieve goals in the shortest possible years, if not decades. This is possible because the Maldives sits in a strategically indispensable loci. The engagement must be with eastern powers, and we must concede much in return for 'tharraggi'. We must also denounce traditional allies or cults.
The conventional model of 'people' contesting elections, the in-fighting, the breakdown of coalitions, the failure to implement teeny tiny mandates, governments changing every four years, policies being turnde upside down before they reach fruition, all of this is what will cripple a small islan nation like maldives. The consensus of the population is not as important as the greater security and future of the nation as a whole. Simultaneous delivery of 'results' must however demonstrate to the people, beyond a shadow of doubt that we are headed in a direction that is beneficial to all, Economically and socially. etc
The idea of small government was a darling. The idea of unregulated privatization was not. All of this irrelevant now of course, because the post-dictatorship age that flowered was anything but small government etc etc.
The future looks very bleak. The immediate future especially, i am very sorry to say. i apologize for painting such a bleak picture, but what all needs to happen is very clear. There are people who know this ..
Coconuts will never be able to help themselves.
Hehehe...all of a sudden Yameen has become the Good guy...what a joke
err correction-
"Within DRP there is NO real political clout"
@Saleem
Make sure that you dont make deals with such hypocrites next time. MDP administration has no such value and are intolerant. Maldivians really need to make every effort to make this government accountable. The future of our nation lies on how well we shape our destiny now.
Why can't the next one to be sacked be Mr Nasheed himself? I don't think he is doing his job well.
@ Arif,well isnt it common fact that whoever is nominated to for the parliament should work for the betterment of the people of the country?
So in that regard i would totally agree with the Ex-Spokesperson.
So joining forces with the government ruling party inorder to help the public is the best decision any citizen who loves the country would do. So Better late than never.
@ Truth: Yameen has helped in bringing democracy to this country in his own ways. So it is his duty to as a MP to serve the country to the best for its people. We cant accuse unless he is proven guilty.So its innocent until proven guilty.
Salim Waheed,
This time you have proved you are truely biased!! Mohamed Rasheed is a smooth talker and nothing else! He has no political weight! and no experience as a economic minister! So ask him to find a UN job with his 2 Masters from Harvard(by the way those two masters are from Massaging techinque?) He is an interesting clown!
On the Yamin note: He is born DICTATOR..never should Anni accept his cowboys to come to government Cabinet post! Never trust Yaamin!
And this is a surprise to who?
The moment I saw him in GIP rally, I knew he would be sacked.
ANNI will keep sacking and firing until he is king without a kingdom!
-The despot-
Dhen Raees furaigen dhiyaima, naib raees MDP Ministareh kandaalaanee