Tag: minivan

EC to send names of candidates who failed to submit financial statements to PG

The Elections Commission (EC) has announced it will be sending for prosecution the names of 76 candidates who took part in the recently concluded parliamentary elections after they failed to submit their financial statements.

The EC confirmed that the 76 candidates who are to be sent for prosecution do not include any of the newly elected parliamentarians.

According to the General Elections Act, candidates are required to submit financial records of election expenditure to the EC within 30 days of the election.

Of the 302 candidates who contested in the parliamentary elections, 226 candidates submitted the financial records to the EC as required.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Chair and deputy chair of parliament’s economic committee elected

Parliament’s economic committee has elected Nilandhoo constituency MP Abdulla Khaleel as its chair and Meedhoo constituency MP Ahmed ‘Sun’ Siyam as its deputy chair at a committee meeting held on Wednesday (July 2).

Maamigili constituency MP – leader of Jumhooree Party – Gasim Ibrahim and Hithadhoo Uthuru constituency MP Mohamed Aslam were also nominated for the post of chair but lost by 1 vote and 3 votes, respectively.

In addition to these four members, the committee also included Galolhu Uthuru constituency MP Eva Abdulla, Thinadhoo Uthuru constituency MP Saudhulla Hilmy, Guraidhoo constituency MP Hussain Manik Dhon Manik, Central Fuvahmulah constituency MP Ali Fazaadh, Kin’bidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Riyaz, Maduhvari constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth, and Laamu Gan constituency Fayyaz Ismail.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Former political appointees and staff of abolished Transport Ministry to be transferred

Political appointees from the defunct Transport Ministry have been moved to other departments.

Civil Service Commission Secretary General Mohamed Faizal has confirmed that none of the civil servants who worked there would lose their jobs.

“We are currently in the process of transferring them to the ministries to which the departments they served under have been delegated. They will be getting their salaries without interruption even while we are working on the transfers,” Faizal explained.

Faizal stated that the staff do not have a say regarding which ministry they are transferred to, and that the commission will instead be transferring them to whichever ministry is currently delegated with running their previous department.

According to him, no changes will be brought to their posts or salaries as a result of the change.

Former Ministers of State for Transport and Communication Abdul Latheef Mohamed and Mohamed Anees have been appointed to the same posts at the Ministry of Economic Development, the President’s Office has revealed.

Their colleague, Minister of State Mohamed Ibrahim, has also been transferred to the same post at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Meanwhile, the removal of Deputy Transport Minister Ikram Hassan and Executive Coordinator Mohamed Azeem have been announced today. Three other deputy ministers were also removed from their posts with the abolition of the ministry on June 19.

Work conducted at the ministry has since been delegated to other ministries and institutions.

The Regional Airports Department has been transferred to the Ministry of Tourism, while the Transport Authority has been transferred to the Ministry of Economic Development.

The Communications Authority of Maldives was transferred under the Ministry of Home Affairs, although a number of other functions formerly fulfilled by the Transport Ministry have been delegated to the Environment, Home, Economic Development and Finance ministries.

Following the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives severing its coalition agreement with the Jumhooree Party(JP) in May, President Abdulla Yameen dismissed Transport Minister Ameen Ibrahim – who was filling a JP cabinet slot – from the post.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Maldives National University to start classes for preschool and primary grades

The Maldives National University has announced that it will be providing  English language classes will be held for students in preschool and primary grades.

The programme will start today (July 2) and is scheduled to end on July 24. The classes for primary grades will include writing, listening and speaking skills in the English language.

The preschool sessions are based on the UK brand ‘City and Guild Intensive English Language Programme’.

The entry fee for the programme is MRV750 per student and classes will be held for a duration of four hours every weekday.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MRDC fined for constructing roads without conducting EIAs

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has fined the Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) by an amount of MVR739,500 for constructing roads in Addu without conducting the prerequisite Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

The EPA said that it has ordered the MRDC to pay the fine within a period of 30 days.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Five members of Special Constabulary promoted to the police force

The Maldives Police Services have announced the promotion of five persons working in the police reserve force – or Special Constabulary – to full police officers.

Following the change, the police are seeking new recruits for the constabulary.

Police revealed that the five persons were officers from the reserve force who were working as security guards at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Man arrested for stealing bananas

A man has been arrested in the early hours of Wednesday for being caught in the act of stealing bananas from a stall at the local market in capital Malé city.

Police informed media that the arrested man is a local, age 34, who has a previous record of drug abuse.

He was arrested by officers who were patrolling the streets of Malé. Police recovered a number of what are suspected to be stolen bananas from his possession.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

JSC vote to proceed after new voter lists brought no complaints

The Attorney General’s Office announced yesterday (July 1) that it had not received any complaints regarding the voters’ list for the election of a lawyer to the Judicial Services Commission.

The Supreme Court last week amended regulations in order to allow previously judges and MPS – previously excluded – to take part in the election of the legal representative on the judicial watchdog.

Subsequently, the office has announced the list to be the final version, placing the number of eligible voters at a total of 788 persons.

According to the announcement, the election will be held in five other islands in addition to capital city Malé – Ihavandhoo in Haa Alif atoll, Kulhudhuhfushi in Haa Dhaal atoll, Veymandoo in Thaa atoll, Fonadhoo in Laamu atoll, and Villin’gili in Gaafu Alif atoll.

In Malé, voting booths will be placed in Arabiyya School on Chandhanee Magu.

The election is scheduled to be held from 9.30am to 3.30pm on July 13.

Five candidates are registered to contest in the election, including former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, former JSC member Latheefa Gasim, as well as lawyers Mohamed Fareed, Mohamed Faisal, and Anas Abdul Sattar.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

All licensed lawyers, including judges and MPs, can vote to elect JSC lawyer, rules Supreme Court

Additional reporting by Zaheena Rasheed

Any individual with a lawyer license, including judges and MPs, will be allowed to vote in electing a lawyer to the ten member judicial oversight body, the Supreme Court has ruled on Monday.

The order voids a clause in new regulations compiled by the Attorney General’s office which prohibits judges and parliamentarians from participating in the vote to elect a lawyer to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

The JSC is comprised of the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, a Supreme Court judge elected by the bench, a High Court judge elected by the judges of the High Court, a judge of the lower courts elected by the judges of the lower courts, an MP elected by the MPs, a member of the public appointed by the Majlis, a presidential appointee, the Attorney General, President of the Civil Service Commission and a lawyer elected from the licensed lawyers.

The order – signed by Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain – said lawyers do not lose their license despite serving in other professions. It further noted that the High Court had rescinded a Civil Court order of 2009 which prohibited judges from voting in the lawyer election.

Faiz advised against discrimination between licensed lawyers based on their profession, and ordered the state authorities to ensure all lawyers, regardless of their current positions, are able to vote in the election.

Speaking to Minivan News, lawyer Husnu Suood said the ruling compromised the independence of the legal profession.

“I feel that allowing judges to vote in the election of a member representing legal profession in JSC compromises the independence of the legal profession. It is high time that we expedite the enactment of the much awaited legal professional Act to ensure independence of the legal profession,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hassan Latheef said the Supreme Court’s ruling was “wrong” and appears to be an attempt to limit the space for lawyers to advocate on their behalf.

The lawyer slot must be occupied by a practicing lawyer, Latheef said pointing out that judges are not allowed to practice despite having licenses. Further, judges from the Supreme Court, High Court and lower courts already have designated slots in the JSC, he added.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office has extended the application deadline – set to expire at 2 pm today – to Monday (June 30).

Latheef said the extension may allow judges or MPs to apply for the lawyer slot.

“If they can vote, they probably can stand for the position? This undermines the spirit of the whole election,” he said.

The election is currently scheduled for July 13.

Minivan News was unable to contact AG Mohamed Anil at the time of press.

At present, AG office lawyer Ahmed Rasheed represents the lawyer community on the JSC.

The four lawyers who have applied for the position are former deputy Prosecutor General Hussein Shameem, Mohamed Fareed, Anas Abdul Sattar and Mohamed Faisal.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)