Tag: minivan news

IGMH may reduce employees following review

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) may reduce the number of workers employed at the site following a health institution structural review, local media has reported.

During former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration, IGMH employees were transferred under the Health Corporation.

However, under the current administration of President Dr Mohamed Waheed, Health Minister Dr Ahmed Jamsheed then transferred all Health Corporation employees to government civil service November 1, 2012.

An IGMH official told local media that the hospital is “largely under the civil service structure” and the regular payment of salaries and allowances has been changed “according to service regulations,” however further changes are still needed.

“The change in structure was brought about after a delay of more than six months,” the official said.

Changes in the hospital’s structure and a “shuffle” of management are expected following the review, since civil service posts have duplicated some Health Corporation positions and so far the review shows the number of employees is “a little bit high”.

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President invited to 4th International Islamic Conference of Bait Al Maqdis

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has been invited to attend the 4th International Islamic Conference of Bait Al Maqdis in Palestine as guest of honour, the President’s Office has confirmed.

President Waheed has been invited to the conference, which is scheduled to take place in early June, by his  Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on the back of ongoing efforts to expand bilateral relations with the Maldives.

The President’s Office said that Dr Waheed’s invitation was personally delivered yesterday (April 21) by the Ambassador of Palestine accredited to the Maldives, Dr Anwar Al-Agha.

After handing over the invitation, the ambassador also praised president Waheed’s work to uphold Islamic culture in the Maldives, while also commending his efforts to strengthen bonds with Arab countries.

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MNDF soldiers’ rights to political participation “curbed” under law: Defence Minister Nazim

Minister of Defence and National Security Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim said that he would “not allow room for politics within the military”, according to local media.

The comments were made today as part of a speech given at a flag hoisting ceremony to mark the 121st anniversary of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

MNDF soldiers must forgo rights granted to civilians, refrain from politics, and limit their political participation to voting only, as stipulated in the Constitution and military law, Nazim was quoted as saying by Sun Online .

“Every soldier has to accept that some of the rights granted to a civilian in an open society are restricted to a soldier. One of these rights is the right to participate in political activities. I would like to tell you that the constitution and the military law have curbed these rights from the soldier for a greater and larger purpose,” Nazim stated, according to local media.

“I would like to tell you today, that the role of a soldier is done once you exercise your right to cast your vote, entitled to every person above the age of 18. I would like to bid from all military personnel to refrain from partaking in political activities,” Nazim added.

Nazim also “assured” soldiers he will not issue political orders as long as he remains Minister of Defence.

Article 30(a) of the Maldivian constitution stipulates that “Every citizen has the right to establish and to participate in the activities of political parties.”

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State, private sector divided over responsibility for Maldives garbage dumping

Divisions have arisen between different ministerial bodies and the private sector over who should take the majority of blame for garbage being dumped into the sea.

While the Environment Ministry this month raised fears about increased levels of garbage in the sea as a result of resort waste not being properly disposed of, the Tourism Ministry responded that the more likely culprits were boat operators.

Meanwhile, the country’s safari boat industry has rejected allegations that a large number of liveaboard operators were responsible for dumping trash into the country’s waters, claiming the main problem lay with boats hired by resorts to transport waste to landfill.

Mounting complaints

Minister of Environment and Energy Dr Mariyam Shakeela told local media earlier this month that the majority of waste being produced by resorts was not reaching land set aside for disposal on the island of Thilafushi.  She claimed it was instead being dumped in the sea.

Dr Shakeela stated that complaints about resorts dumping their trash were mounting and that “close inspection of waste accumulating in the sea near the capital Male’ has proved that it had been dumped by resorts”.

“The reason I say this is because most of the photos sent in by EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and other such authorities show large quantities of orange peel. Bits of apples and tomatoes amount to most of the waste. Where does it come from? It comes from the resorts,” Shakeela said.

She added the amount of waste produced by resorts amounted to 7.5 kg per head.

Environmental authorities have nonetheless pledged to “try to establish a focal point on each resort” and conduct a waste study.

Responding to Dr Shakeela’s comments, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb told Minivan News this month that resorts had their own waste management facilities, adding that dhonis (boats) were more likely to be behind dumping the garbage.  He mantained that the matter was presently under investigation.

Addressing concerns about the levels of trash found in the sea, Adheeb also highlighted the lack of a nationwide waste management system.

He said that while the previous government of former President Mohamed Nasheed had proposed generating energy from incinerators – referring to ongoing uncertainty over a previous waste management project – it first needed to have incinerators in place and working.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has previously pledged to take the “lead” in addressing waste management issues in Male’ should the city’s council and the Ministry of Environment and Energy fail to effectively deal with concerns about garbage.

In early January, Adheeb said the issue of waste management posed an immense threat to tourism in the country.  He added at the time that his department would “take the lead” to actively address the problem should other authorities fail to resolve ongoing concerns by February 2013.

However, opinion about levels of trash being dumped in the sea appears further divided among boat operators in the country – particularly within the safari boat industry, which provides trips and cruises for both tourists and Maldivians.

Safari boat waste dumping

A source with over 16 years experience in the safari boat industry has alleged that approximately 75 percent of safari (liveaboard) boats were responsible for prolific waste dumping.

“Every night when all the guests go to sleep around 12:00am to 1:00am, the liveaboard staff throws everything into the sea. This includes basically everything, all the trashcans [bags], plastic bottles, foods, lube oil, for example,” the source said.

The source further explained that the practice of dumping waste depended often on the company operating the boat, their hiring practices, and staff regulations.  He alleged that the worst practices were often committed “by the ones in charge of the Liveaboard Association”.

“When you have a proper establishment they won’t let staff do that. Very good local and foreign companies strictly forbid staff to throw even cigarette butts into the ocean,” the source said.

“However, there are no regulations or requirements to work on a liveaboard and it’s all about [securing] cheap labour.  This is a very big issue in the dive industry. They do not go for the qualified people,” he added.

The source claimed that with the number of foreign workers on liveaboards increasing, their work status was often illegal – making them unaware and sometimes careless regarding issues concerning waste dumping.

“It’s all about awareness and getting the right people to do the right job. At least to keep a responsible person on each liveaboard to make sure no one is illegally dumping garbage,” the source declared.

He further explained that dumping waste into the ocean was very harmful to the local ecosystem.

“The big, huge, messy black garbage bags can drift with the current and then trap healthy table coral. Harm also comes to mantas and whale sharks which stay near the surface, while sea turtles ingest plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish,” the source said.

“If things continue like this we won’t have any healthy reefs in the next 10 to 15 years. The Maldives won’t be the same,” he claimed.

The source believed that the government in recent years – both the current and former administrations – has not taken any proper actions to try to combat the problem.

“The tourism ministry doesn’t do anything aside from talking. Actions speak louder than words and there has been no enforcement of the laws.”

In regard to the allegations of safari boats dumping waste, Tourism Minister Adheeb told Minivan News that a proper place was needed for the liveaboards to moor so the vessels can be monitored.

Liveaboard Association response

Meanwhile, the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM) Secretary General Ismail Hameed told Minivan News that the allegations of safari boat waste dumping applied only to a limited number of operators.  Hameed claimed that some companies would always try to flout the rules.

“Many liveaboards are following regulations [and not dumping waste into the sea], but there will be some vessels that do,” he said.

Hameed alleged that dhonis carrying resort waste are responsible for illegal waste dumping.

“Resorts send their garbage to Thilafushi on dhonis. The dhonis cut the trip short and dump the waste in the ocean. I’ve seen boxes labeled with resort names,” explained Hameed.

“Not all resorts are guilty of improperly dumping waste, just as not all liveaboards are guilty either,” he added.

Hameed additionally complained that the liveaboard industry has been neglected for 40 years “under every government administration”, further complicating efforts to monitor operators.

“Our main concern is there are no proper mooring and harbour system for liveaboards. There needs to be a local marina patrolled to ensure safety, proper garbage disposal, and refueling for these vessels,” he said.

“There has not been a proper mechanism for waste management implemented by the [national] government or island societies.”

Hameed claimed that the LAM has been communicating these issues to the government for “a couple of years”, explaining that the cabinet had recently approved work on a harbour for safari vessels in the Male’ area.

LAM aims to “find solutions to difficulties, issues and other things involved in liveaboard operations, including environmental issues and staff development”,

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NGO urges government to address “inadequate” child protection measures

A Maldivian NGO has criticised child protection measures currently in place in the country as “inadequate”, while urging government authorities to incorporate several key human rights obligations into domestic law.

Local NGO Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) told Minivan News today (April 21) that although the Maldives has signed and agreed to be legally bound by the provisions in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocols, the commitments have yet to be adopted into law.

ARC said it therefore “strongly urged” the Maldivian government to ratify the CRC Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure as soon as possible to “enhance child protection measures in the country and to uphold its international legal obligations and responsibilities under the convention.”

ARC today claimed that provisions outlined in the CRC had not been fully adopted by the state into domestic legislation, thereby limiting the promotion and protection of child rights.

“Even though there is work being done to protect children, it is not enough,” the organisation said.

“The CRC’s optional [communications] protocol allows individuals, a group of individuals or their representatives to submit complaints to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child claiming to be victims of a violation by the state, of any rights enshrined in the convention or any of its optional protocols which the Maldives is a party to.

“What is very important is that children themselves or their parents can submit complaints if domestic [legal measures] have been exhausted,” ARC added.

ARC cited the recent example of the 15-year-old rape victim from the island of Feydhoo in Shaviyani Atoll who was convicted of premarital sex at the Juvenile Court in February and sentenced to 100 lashes and eight months of house arrest.

“The recent case of a 15-year old girl, whose rights were violated and abused by her step-father is a clear example of how domestic judicial and legal mechanisms failed to address and rectify the violation over a substantial period of time, at different levels,” ARC said.

“This is a situation where an individual complaint to the UN Committee could hold the government accountable even if the ‘domestic remedial system’, including judicial and legal mechanisms, fail to address the issue of abuse.

“Ratifying this optional protocol will help protect the rights of children as it could help reduce the number of cases in the Maldives where a lack of legislation, clarity and commitment to international human rights law allow serious injustices to proliferate,” ARC added.

Council heads and senior civil society figures have previously slammed the judiciary, state authorities and welfare groups over their systemic failure to protect the 15 year-old girl, despite her history of alleged sexual abuse dating back to 2009.

The 15-year-old’s case has brought international attention to the Maldives’ legal system, including the launch of an online Avaaz.org petition signed by over 2 million people that has threatened to boycott Maldivian tourism.  The sentencing of the minor has also come under high-profile public criticism from British multi-billionaire Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin group of companies.

Former Attorney General Azima Shukoor has already appealed the court’s sentencing decision against the minor.

ARC said it hope ratifying the treaty in the Maldives would instill “a sense of transparency on child rights issues and encourage the government to be more accountable to its obligations.”

“The protocol is specifically designed to allow members of the public to submit complaints to an international body if children’s rights have been violated,” ARC added.

ARC said it had been informed by the Maldivian government that the ratification process had been started and was hoped to be concluded  “at the earliest opportunity”.

UNICEF’s view

The UN General Assembly adopted the CRC’s optional communications protocol (treaty) in December 2011.  Tt was first opened for signature in February 2012.  Currently only four countries have ratified the treaty, agreeing to be legally bound by its terms.

UNICEF Representative Zeba Tanvir Bukhari explained to Minivan News that the CRC’s optional communications protocol would require a minimum of 10 ratifications before the treaty enters into force.

“Signatures usually happen faster than ratification, however what is signed should be ratified to help enable implementation,” said Bukhari.

She added that achieving societal change in attitudes to child rights was difficult, but there were “many ways of managing” it in the Maldives.  Bukhari pointed to maintaining civil society pressure and media attention on the Maldivian government to ratify the CRC optional protocol, as two notable examples on how to secure such changes.

UNICEF previousy backed a study published by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) in January of this year highlighting numerous policy deficiencies in children’s participation and protection.  These deficiencies were highlighted in the report as potentially putting Maldivian children at serious risk of harm.

Ultimately the report recommended that government and civil society organisations “push for a radical change in the traditional thinking which dominates Maldivian perceptions of children: children should be seen and not heard.”

The Maldives has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (February 1991), the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (May 2002), and the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (December 2004).

Legal obligations

A senior legal expert with experience of working under both the present and former governments spoke with Minivan News earlier this year about how minors were identified and viewed in the eyes of Maldivian law.

The legal source stated that the culpability of children was identified in a regulation called ‘Kuda kudhin kuraa kushuge masala thah balai, thahugeegu koh, insaafu koh, adhabu dhinumugai amalu kuraane gothuge gavaidu’.

The legal source said that the culpability of minors is specifically dealt with in section five of the regulations.

“According to section five, children above the age of 10 and below the age of 15 are criminally responsible for five offences, which are apostasy, treason, fornication, falsely accusing fornication and consumption of alcohol,” the source said.

“Children above 15 years are criminally responsible for their actions. With children who are below 10, parents are required to make good any damage because of a criminal act. There is no criminal liability for below 10.”

Meanwhile, neglect and abuse of children were reported to have increased to an “alarming level“, compelling the the Maldives’ Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights to submit an amendment (April 7) that would transfer parental guardianship of children in cases of negligence.

Earlier this year, ARC called on the Maldivian government to pass legislation concerning the treatment of sexual abuse victims. The NGO also raised concerns over the potential impact on the state’s ability to prevent sexual offences following reductions to the state budget approved by parliament in December 2012.

ARC has identified a lack of specific legislation protecting rights for children and adults – despite the Special Measures Act 2009.

The NGO also previously called for reforms of the juvenile justice system and reform of the current protection mechanisms provided to minors who are kept in state run institutions, such as homes and foster programs.

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New UN Resident Coordinator to Maldives commences tour of duty

The new UN Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Republic of Maldives, Tony E. Lisle, has today officially begun his tour of duty in the country.

Lisle’s main task will be to oversee national development programs by collaborating with the various UN agencies operating in the country, a spokesperson for the organisation told Minivan News today.

The new resident coordinator, who has been serving within the UN since 1996, previously held the position of Country Director for UNAIDS in Vietnam.

Lisle’s mandate as resident coordinator is expected to last for between four to five years, according to the organisation.

Lisle replaces former UN Resident Coordinator Andrew Cox, who completed his tour of duty back in January of this year.

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MP Ilham Ahmed switches to Jumhoree Party

MP Ilham Ahmed has signed to the government-aligned Jumhoree Party (JP) Thursday (April 18), days after resigning from his post as Vice President of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The PPM is part of the national coalition government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed along with the JP.

Speaking Thursday at a special JP rally at the artificial beach area in Male’ following his defection, MP Ilham was quoted in local newspaper Haveeru as claiming there was no other party that he had wished to join.

He also stressed the need for forming a coalition in order to secure victory during presidential elections scheduled for September of this year.  Ilham claimed that forming the election would be much easier under JP Leader and business tycoon, MP Gasim Ibrahim

Gasim also spoke during the event claiming that he would be prepared to form a coalition with other parties, but that he would not stand as a running mate of another candidate, according to Sun Online.

Earlier on Thursday, JP Spokesman Moosa Ramiz said the party had ruled out the idea of forming a coalition with fellow government-aligned parties ahead of this year’s elections, despite its involvement in recent power sharing talks with President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

MP Ilham and JP spokesperson Ramiz were not responding to calls from Minivan News at time of press. MP Gasim had his phone switched off.

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300 flats being built on Hulhumale’ for police officers

Three hundred flats set aside for police officers will be built on the island of Hulhumale’, Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz has announced.

The building work was announced at a function celebrating the 80th anniversary of police services in the Maldives, with the flats being built as part of efforts to “improve the welfare of servicemen and servicewomen”, the commissioner was quoted as saying by Channel News Maldives (CNM).

Additionally, a “mechanism” for police officers and their families to receive medical treatment in Sri Lankan institutions at “minimal prices” will also be introduced in April.

The Police Family Association is also being “revived to strengthen the social relations of police officers and their family ties,” Riyaz said added.

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Reporter Ibrahim ‘Asward’ Waheed returns to Maldives following major surgery

Raajje TV reporter Ibrahim ‘Asward’ Waheed yesterday (April 19) returned to the Maldives following major surgery in Sri Lanka after being attacked with an iron rod in February.

Asward told local media he was very happy to return to the Maldives and added that the attack on him was an attack on media.  He told local media that he would remain undeterred in his role as a journalist.

Asward, 22, is news head of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-aligned broadcaster Raajje TV.  He was attacked with an iron rod at 1:18am on February 23 while riding a motorbike near the artificial beach area of Male’.

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz described the attack via Twitter as a murder attempt.

The attack left Asward unconscious.  He was later transferred to a hospital in Sri Lanka for treatment, where he had to undergo major surgery last month to correct a maxillary fracture (broken jawbone).

Police submitted cases against two suspects to the Prosecutor General’s Office April 16
on charges of assaulting Asward in February. The investigation into the murder attempt remains ongoing.

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