Category: News in Brief

Former President Nasheed returns to Male’ after participating in jury for Zyed Future Energy Prize

Former President Mohamed Nasheed returned to Male’ on Friday afternoon after a visit to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the jury panel to select winners of the annual Zyed Future Energy Prize, an international award to recognise innovation, leadership and impact in renewable energy and sustainability.

This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony on January 15, 2013.

Upon arrival in Male’, the former President was greeted at the jetty by supporters and members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Former President Nasheed was granted permission to travel by the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court, which had earlier ordered his passport be held until conclusion of Nasheed’s trial over the detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

According to the Emirates News Agency, Nasheed along with other jury members Olaf Ragnar Grimsson, the President of Iceland, and Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa, toured Shams 1 – the 100 megawatt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) facility in the Western region of Abu Dhabi.

President Nasheed was also named in the jury for the Zyed Future Energy Prize in 2011 along with Leonardo Dicaprio, Oscar-winning actor; Andre Agassi, Grand Slam tennis champion; Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister; and Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, South African Minister of Energy.

The annual Zayed Future Energy Prize is open to individuals, large companies, entrepreneurs, small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and NGOs in the field of renewable energy and sustainability. Award category and prizes are: SMEs/NGOs: $1.5 million (winner), $1m (first runner-up), and $500,000 (second runner-up); Lifetime Achievement — Individual: $500,000; large corporations: Recognition Award.

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Maldives to sign UN convention against organised crime

The Majlis’ National Security Committee has agreed to the Maldives becoming signatory to the United Nations (UN) Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, reports Sun Online.

The convention, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000, has been signed by 147 states before Maldives.

The UNODC website states that country’s which sign and then ratify this convention commit themselves to the following:

  • The creation of domestic criminal offences (participation in an organized criminal group, money laundering, corruption and obstruction of justice)
  • The adoption of new and sweeping frameworks for extradition, mutual legal assistance and law enforcement cooperation
  • The promotion of  training and technical assistance for building or upgrading the necessary capacity of national authorities

The committee agreed that the Maldives becomes a party to the convention provided it does not contain protocols that run contrary to the constitution or the tenets of Islam.

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Government advertises for vacant PIC seat

The President’s Office has today opened up applications for the vacant seat on the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) following the resignation of former Chair Shahindha Ismail earlier this month.

The PIC’s is charged with promoting police officer’s respect for law, independently investigating any unlawful activities, and enhancing trust and confidence in the police.

Shahindha resigned after significant differences of opinion with her fellow commission members regarding the events surrounding February’s transfer of power.

“For me, the commission is not heading in the right direction – when you look at the commission’s work of late, I didn’t feel it was working towards objectives stated in police act,” she said at the time.

The advertisement has been published in the government gazette and will close on October 31.

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Finance Ministry Director General challenges dismissal

The Finance Ministry has dismissed its Deputy Director General Ali Arif following a report from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), local media has reported.

Permanent Secretary Ismail Shafeeg told Haveeru that Arif was taking his dismissal to the employment tribunal.

Arif himself told the paper that he was unaware of the reason for his dismissal.

“I’ve only been told that I had violated the laws and regulations. I informed them via a letter that I cannot be fired until it’s proven that I’m guilty of wrongdoing. But I’m yet to receive a response,” he told Haveeru.

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President opens Dharavandhoo airport in Baa Atoll

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan and the First Lady Madame Ilham travelled to Baa Atoll yesterday to officially open Dharavandhoo airport.

Waheed gave a speech highlighting the importance of catering to tourist in the atoll which last year became the country’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

He also discussed the importance of developing the Maldives’ transport infrastructure  and aviation capacity.

Local media reported that helium balloons were used to remove the cloth covering the airport’s sign, marking the official opening.

Waheed had travelled the twenty minutes to Baa atoll from Ibrahim Nasir Interational Airport (INIA) in Male’ where, this morning, a giant helium balloon could be seen reading ‘Go Home GMR’, by the Indian company’s office.

The development of INIA by GMR – the largest in the country’s history – has been beset by controversy since it was agreed by the former administration with current government-aligned parties calling for the airport’s nationalisation.

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‘Penitentiary Department unable to execute sentences’: State Minister

State Minister for Home Affairs Mohamed Fayaz has outlined some of the issues concerning the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) at a ceremony marking its 41st anniversary, reports Sun Online.

Fayaz said that the department was failing to execute court rulings, with less than 25 percent of 2000 people sentenced to prison behind bars when the current government took office in February.

He argued that punishments such as exile and house arrest were obsolete as island councils were refusing to accept convicts and the department did not have the resources to monitor those subsequently placed under house arrest.

“Councils do not accept exiles. We have no choice but to put them under house arrest. They go out into society, and commit more crimes. The commissioner complained to me, when the same person had to be brought in five times within one week. What can we do?” Sun reported Fayaz as saying.

Fayaz also raised the issue of prison capacity, saying that the maximum number of inmates the system can hold is 1100, whilst the current need is 2000.

“Criminals will not hesitate to commit crimes, if they know they will not be subjected to the due punishment,” he said.

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OPEC fund to provide loan for Addu hospital

The government has agreed a loan of US$8.4 million (MVR129.5 million) with OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to build a hospital in Hithadhoo, Sun Online reports.

OFID is a finance institution established by the group of petroleum exporting states to channel aid to less-developed nations, most often for vital infrastructure

Previous loan support from the fund was given to upgrade Male’ international airport in 1999, and again in 2005 to extend Wataniya’s telecoms coverage.

Sun reported that the loan had originally been agreed last year, at a slightly higher rate of interest, and that the repayment period was 20 years.

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad told Sun that the Health Ministry would begin the search for contractors next week.

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National Security Committee to resume STO oil trade investigation

The National Security Committee has decided to resume its investigation into the alleged US$800 million illegal oil trade involving the State Trading Organisation (STO).

The scandal emerged last year after an Indian magazine described Abdulla Yameen -former head of the STO and half-brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – as “the kingpin” of a scheme to buy subsidised oil through the STO’s branch in Singapore and sell it on through an entity called ‘Mocom Trading’ to the Burmese military junta, at a black market premium.,

Committee Chair Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik said that information will be gathered from the Attorney General and the ACC, reported local media.

Yameen was summoned for questioning last by the committee last year, telling the members that he was not aware of Mocom’s activities.

In August, the MDP accused the government of calling a halt to the investigation after the Attorney General (AG) revealed that the government had received a bill of $10million from the forensic accounting firm Grant Thornton.

The MDP alleged was a penalty imposed for cancelling the firm’s investigation into the case.

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Nasheed office’s allowance withheld

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad has said that the office allowances payable to former President Mohamed Nasheed have been withheld for the past three months.

Sun Online have reported Jihad as saying that the issue was related to the unknown location of Nasheed’s office.

“We have not received any response to our letters to clarify this. The allowance will resume once they inform us the office location,” he said.

However, when questioned by local paper Haveeru Jihad said that the suspension of privileges was related to a disagreement over whether former president’s were required to conduct charitable activities.

“In reality, the office should be involved in holding social activities. However, the concern of these members is that there is no social work to be seen by the (Nasheed’s) office. It has to be clarified. Hence the financial allowances have been halted for the time being. We still haven’t been provided with the information we sought in relation to the office,” Jihad told the paper.

The paper reported that the current law on the matter states that up to MVR175,000 per month in office expenses can be provided to former heads of state conducting charitable work.

Jihad said that a former Presidents’ Immunity and Privileges Act is currently being drafted and that Nasheed will be allowed the privileges outlined in the eventual legislation.

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