Tag: media

Parliament to vote on whether to halt Nexbis border control project

Parliament’s Finance Committee is to put the controversial issue of the Nexbis border control system (BCS) before parliament to vote on whether to halt use of the project.

The MVR500 million (US$39 million) project finally moved ahead this year after a series high-profile court battles and delays that led Malaysia-based Nexbis to last year threaten legal action against the Maldivian government should it incur losses for the work already done on the project.

However, the Malaysia-based mobile security provider has come under scrutiny by political parties who claim that the project is detrimental to the state, while the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) has continuously alleged of corruption in the bidding process.

Nexbis has continued to dismiss accusations of corruption within its deal with the Maldives government.

The vote has been scheduled after Parliament’s Finance Committee earlier this month also revealed that the Maldivian government had agreed to waive taxes for Nexbis.  The committee noted in a letter sent to President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan that there was a potential financial burden facing the state due to the BCS deal agreed with Nexbis.

Despite the allegations, the border control system is currently active at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) after a Supreme Court ruling in early September favouring Nexbis ended almost two years of efforts by the ACC to block the project.

Speaking about the BSC project, Majlis Finance Committee member Ahmed Hamza said today he believed parliament would halt the project as “most members” were of the impression the contract is not financially beneficial to the country.

“The nature of the contract means that both the government and Maldivian people will suffer heavily from a financial point of view,” Hamza told Minivan News today.

In September, the ACC informed the committee that the deal would cost the Maldives MVR 2.5 billion (US$162 million) in potential lost revenue over the lifetime of the contract.

A member of Parliament’s Finance Committee member told local media yesterday (December 18) that the project is “laden with corruption allegations” and could have been carried out at a much lesser cost.

When asked if there was a sufficient system to take over from Nexbis, Hamza revealed today that there was a “worry” within the immigration department that their own system will not be sufficient.

Furthermore, Hamza stated that there is a “possibility” that human trafficking could increase should the Nexbis contract be cancelled, and to combat this parliament will need to provide a “sufficient solution to deal with these problems”.

Under the ‘build operate and transfer’ (BOT) agreement with Nexbis, the government is obliged to pay Nexbis US$2 for every foreign passenger processed and US$15 for every work permit for the 20 year lifespan of the contract. Nexbis remains responsible for the upgrading, servicing and administration of the system.

Former Immigration Controller Abdulla Shahid has expressed concern earlier this year over both the cost and necessity of the project, calculating that with continued growth in tourist numbers, Nexbis would be earning US$200 million in revenue over the 20 year lifespan of the agreement.

At five percent, royalties to the government would come to US$10 million, Shahid said, when there was little reason for the government not to be earning the revenue itself by operating a system given by a donor country.

“The option was there to establish the system for free,” stated ACC President Hassan Luthfee, revealing that the US government had offered a free system in 2009.

“Even the Indian government had offered to do it for free. On the other hand this could have been done for MVR2.3-2.5 million. So we can’t believe that this should be done at such a high cost,” Luthfee told the committee.

Minivan News today contacted Immigration Controller Dr Mohamed Ali over the developments regarding the BCS agreement with Nexbis.

“I am not aware of any recent decisions from the parliament over this matter,” Dr Ali claimed, before declining to comment further.

Back in July, Dr Ali claimed that with the Maldives having signed up to conventions pledging to try and more effectively combat Transnational Organised Crime like human trafficking, new systems were needed to help meet these aims.

“From our own experience, we have found people being trafficked back into the country even after they have previously been deported,” he claimed at the time. ”A system like this should put a stop to that.”

Minivan News was also awaiting a response from Nexbis at the time of press.

Nexbis has previously claimed that allegations of corruption in its deal with the government was “politically motivated” and had “wrought irreparable damage to its reputation and brand name.”

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MDP calls for release of Abdulla Jaavid

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for the release of its Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik’s son-in-law Abdulla Jaavid, who has been arrested in connection to the murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali earlier this year.

On Sunday (December 16) the High Court upheld a Criminal Court order to extend Javid’s detention claiming police had a phone call recording as evidence to support their accusation of his involvement in the murder.

The MDP accused the police of attempting to pin Afrasheem’s murder of MDP members instead of going after those guilty of the crime, a statement seen by local media has read.

The party further reportedly stated that police had detained two of its members Mariyam Naifa and Alli ‘Smith’ Hashim for an extended period of time before releasing them without any charges.

The statement, according to local media, read: “If someone is being detained on such allegations, there should be enough evidence to file charges. Smith was kept in detention until the Ungoofaaru by-election was over. He was released less than 24 hours after final voting results were announced. All these things show us that the police are trying to frame MDP for the murder of Dr Afrasheem.”

Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz, who earlier stated that the motive behind the murder was political, was also accused in the statement of not having any evidence to back up his claims.

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Bidding period for Herethera Resort extended for third time by Maldives Tourism Development Corporation

The bidding period for the management or purchase of Herethera Resort has been extended for the third time by Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).

MTDC is still looking for a party to purchase or manage the resort after the last bidding period closed on Sunday (December 16). The latest bidding period will continue until January 21.

The company has not stated why the last bidding period ceased, but on previous instances they said that they had to cancel bids due to a lack of interest from potential investors.

ONYX, a company from Thailand, previously managed the resort until February this year.

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Stricter safety measures to ensure tourist safety: Tourism Minister Adheeb

Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor has reiterated the importance of ensuring the safety of tourists in the Maldives through stricter safety measures.

In light of the recent suspected snorkelling incidents whereby one tourist died and another is still missing, Adheeb revealed to local media that efforts are underway to strengthen existing regulations to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

As of next month, Adheeb stated that preparations will be undertaken to initiate various activities in relation to tourist safety.

According the tourism minister, the industry had so far been based on the European market, where he said tourists were generally much more adept swimmers. However, he claimed that east Asians who were now dominating tourism numbers in the Maldives market were not so familiar with the ocean.

“Europeans are generally strong swimmers. But the ocean is a whole new experience for the Chinese. The level of excitement for them is very different. We have to take that into account and be more aware of it when we make arrangements,” Adheeb said.

Adheeb also stated that the tourism industry must evolve and adapt to the changing market, whilst also increasing ocean awareness for tourists. Additionally, existing regulations must be monitored and strengthened.

“If such incidents keep repeating it is a major concern. It will adversely affect our tourism. We need to change the services being provided with the market,” Adheeb told local media.

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Senior UK politicians to be quizzed over Scottish Police College’s training of Maldives officers

Senior UK government figures including Foreign Secretary William Hague are to be quizzed by politicians over the role of a Scottish police college in training Maldivian officers accused of perpetrating human rights abuses in the country.

Following an investigation carried out by UK-based newspaper The Guardian, politicians at Westminster and the Scottish Parliament of Holyrood are to press government ministers on the Scottish Police College’s role in training Maldivian officers.

The Guardian has reported that the MPS stands accused of using “torture and sexual assault against detainees and acting against democracy activists and journalists” after the controversial transfer of power that occurred on February 7 this year.

Police authorities in the Maldives have played down the abuse allegations raised by a number of NGOs such as Amnesty International, questioning possible bias in the data gathered in their reports. The MPS has also said that the allegations of abuse did not reflect the international scope of training provided to officers in the country.

The UK-based newspaper’s investigation reported that at least 77 senior Maldives police officers and commanders – including the Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz – had been trained by the Scottish Police College, located in Fife.

Amnesty International, former senior Maldives officials and opposition activists said they had deep concerns about the UK’s links with the MPS after officers were accused of breaching human rights, the Guardian reported.

The Scottish Police College, which is reportedly earning significant sums of money through working with MPS officers, has an ongoing contract to train Maldives police officers on a diploma course for junior ranks and middle and senior rank officers.

Speaking to the Guardian, the MPS said that it took its obligations seriously, and that reforms recommended by British advisers, as well as consultants from Canada and Australia, were being implemented by the MPS.

MPS spokesman Superintendent Abdul Mannan told the Guardian: “On one hand calling for MPS to be more efficient in dealing with officers’ misconduct and violation of human rights, and on the other calling to suspend all the assistance MPS receives to achieve this, contradicts their [critics] known intention and their actions.”

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz was not responding to calls from Minivan News at the time of press.

Police Spokesman Hassan Haneef told Minivan News today that there was no link between the training local police officers received in Scotland and the allegations of abuses carried out by some of its officers.

“Our training is in accordance to regulation supplied from other countries all over the world, including the UK, Canada and Australia,” said Haneef.

The UK Foreign Office has meanwhile defended the UK’s record in the Maldives, but spoke of concern over the surge in violence since the ousting of Nasheed in February.

“We have serious concerns about allegations of police brutality in Maldives, especially in February 2012,” a Foreign Office spokeswoman told the Guardian.

“We have privately and publicly urged the Maldivian government to fully investigate all allegations and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. We have also called on all parties to ensure institutional reforms are put in place to consolidate democracy and further protect human rights in Maldives.

Farah Faizal, the former Maldives high commissioner to the UK, told the Guardian that close links between British police and the MPS had to be urgently reviewed.

“What I can categorically say is that [the training] doesn’t appear to be working,” she told the paper. “If you see the brutality which is going on in Maldives and the impunity with what’s happening, if these people are being trained by the Scottish police, it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s unacceptable.”

In November a three-man delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) expressed concern over the failure to punish the police officers who used “excessive force” against MPs earlier this year.

Philippine Senator Francis Pangilinan from IPU’s Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians, speaking to members of the press, revealed: “The delegation is deeply concerned that the police officers who used excessive force against the members of parliament earlier this year have not yet been punished, and that Members of Parliament appear to remain subject to intimidation.

“The delegation points out that in several of the cases in the use of excessive police force, there is clear video evidence available which should have enabled the authorities to take effective and swift action. The delegation therefore calls on authorities to do everything possible to expedite their efforts to a successful conclusion,” Pangilinan said.

A Spokesperson from Scottish Police College at Fife told Minivan News that it would not be reviewing its training procedures, but would be taking guidance from the High Commission on whether its existing agreement with the MPS would continue.

“We are continuing conversations with the High Commission on the matter,” the spokesperson said.

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Fault in Laamu Kadhdhoo aiport’s only fire truck causes operations to halt

The only fire truck at Laamu Kadhdhoo airport failed to start this morning causing airport operations to come to a halt.

Due to a fault in the fire truck, Ahmed Ali, who is currently in charge of the airport, said it had not been possible for any aircraft to land at the airport since 9:30am.

Operations were also suspended yesterday due to the same problem.

“We only have one fire truck. The truck has failed to start, so operations have been suspended,” Ali told local media.

While efforts to repair the truck were underway, Ali said that some of the equipment required to repair the truck was not at the airport.

According to Ali, airport operations are to resume by 8:00pm tonight (December 17).

Aviation law prohibits airplanes from landing at an airport without the presence of an operational fire truck.

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Maldivian former college dean found guilty of theft in Dublin, Ireland

A Maldivian man who worked as a college dean at the  American College in Dublin, Ireland has been fined €3,000 (MVR 60,676) for using his work credit card to pay for personal expenses.

36-year-old Ali Shimaz pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of theft totalling €5,622 (MVR 113,707) from the American College on dates between June and September 2009.

The Independent reported that Shimaz had used the work credit card to pay for flights for himself, his wife and a woman he was having an affair with for over a period of several months.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring, who presided over the case, was reported as saying “the thefts were not sophisticated and there was a clear paper trail of emails and credit card statements showing what Shimaz was up to”.

Judge Ring said she did not think society would be best served by imprisoning him and instead imposed a €3,000 (MVR 60,676) fine on him.

The thefts came to light after Shimaz, who is originally from the Maldives but currently living in Dublin, resigned from his post of Dean at the American College, where he was responsible for the recruitment of foreign students.

The Independent reported that Shimaz had originally been a student at the college, eventually becoming an employee and rising to the position of Dean.

Within this role, Shimaz travelled across the world to conferences and fairs and had been issued with a college credit card exclusively for work use.

Suspicions were aroused in October 2009 when Shimaz failed to submit requested receipts, and a subsequent investigation into his email accounts showed flight confirmations for reservations not connected with college business.

In October 2009 Shimaz met with the vice-president of the college and another Dean before agreeing to resign and repay the money he had taken. However, the money was not paid until last month when he pleaded guilty to these offences.

James McCullough BL, defending, told how Shimaz had been educated to secondary level in the Maldives and then studied from 2000 to 2004 at American College.

The Independent reported that Shimaz has since repaid the money to American College, and that he has no previous convictions.

According to the paper, Shimaz’s defence attorney James McCullough said it took Shimaz a while to accept he was in breach of criminal law, “but he has now come to that realisation and was aware of the perilous situation he is now in.”

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Dead body found in Male’ Home

The body of an unidentified man was found dead at a property in Lonuziyaaraiy Magu in Male’ on Friday (November 14).

The body was said to have been discovered at around 6:38pm yesterday evening after people in the area spoke of a bad smell coming from the property M. Mizamaange, according to local media.

A resident living at the property where the body was discovered told Sun Online that the deceased man was a Sri Lankan national.  It is not yet known how the man died.

A police spokesperson was not responding to calls at time of press.

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President Waheed commences tour of Gaafu Alifu Atoll

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has commenced a series of visits to islands in Gaafu Alifu Atoll as part of a tour designed to try outline the key concerns and issues faced by local residents, according to the President’s Office website.

Addressing islanders in Dhevvadhoo, Nilandhoo, Gemanafushi and Kan’duhulhudhoo, President Waheed noted that many islanders in the atoll were still waiting on the provision of basic facilities.

Clean drinking water, efficient sewerage systems and developed harbours were among many of the requests made, the President’s Office website stated.

Whilst noting that these facilities are basic rights, Waheed told the inhabitants of Dhevvadhoo that the government was committed to accommodate these needs.

However, speaking in Kan’duhulhudhoo, Waheed admitted that a lot of the time was given to less important things.

Waheed also noted the importance at present for Maldivians to minimise internal conflicts, lessen political colours and instead raise the national flag above all voices.

Waheed’s visit to Gaafu Alifu Atoll comes after the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – including former President Mohamed Nasheed – recently completed their ‘Journey of Pledges’ to the northern Atolls of the country.

The MDP visited over 40 islands to hear the needs of people, and to find out how many of their pledges had been fulfilled both during Nasheed’s presidency and after his controversial transfer of power on February 7.

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