Tag: minivan

Police searching for man who refuses to hand over 5 month old baby

Police have launched a search for a man accused of refusing to hand over his five month old baby to the mother.

Police stated that they are looking for the man after he failed to follow a court order on March 10 which asked him to hand over the child within a period of 24 hours.

In accordance with a Family Court order, the police are looking for Ahmed Sharuvan of age 32 years from Kanmatheege in Seenu Atoll Maradhoo.

Police have appealed to the public to report any information held about Sharuvan to the police at the earliest.

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In democracy, we must welcome people with varying ideologies: Gayoom

Former President and leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has stated that a democracy is a system in which people are free to work with their personal political ideologies, and that in such a system people with varying ideas must be welcomed.

Speaking at a campaign event of PPM’s parliamentary candidate for Villin’gili constituency Saudh Hussain, Gayoom expressed concerns that residents of some islands harassed contestants campaigning for the party’s coalition.

“Since we are in a democracy, we must welcome people with different ideologies. We have to listen to what they have to say. It is a completely different matter whether you accept what they have to say or not,” Gayoom said.

Gayoom further said that it is very important to acquire a majority in the next parliament, stating that the reason for this is that the current government is led by the coalition.

He opined that failure to garner a majority would cause difficulties in fulfilling party manifesto.

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IGMH dialysis unit to be expanded

In an attempt to broaden services at the dialysis unit in capital city Malé’s state owned Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the management has decided to expand the unit to twice its current size.

IGMH Deputy CEO Mohamed Habeeb told local media that after expansion, the unit will be able to attend to 20 patients at a time.

“As there is such a high demand for dialysis services, we are having to provide these services around the clock. Some patients have to spend about five hours in dialysis,” said Habeeb.

“Currently we have 11 beds in the Dialysis Unit, which will be increased to 20 after the expansion,” he said.

He further revealed that MVR2 million (US$130,000) is estimated to be spent on the project.

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EC dismissals: PPM urges appointment of new commissioners ahead of Majlis polls

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has proposed that a parliamentary meeting be held to appoint members to replace recently dismissed Elections Commission (EC) President Fuwad Thowfeek and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz.

The Supreme Court’s decision to remove the pair has been rejected by parliament’s independent institutions oversight committee which decided on Monday that the two members remained in their posts.

PPM Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader Moosa Zameer told local media that the party wished to abide by the constitutional provision that the EC should consist of five members.

Zameer further asserted that the party believes there is sufficient time to appoint persons to the remaining two seats ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for March 22.

“We can hold the elections even with three members in the Elections Commission. However, the constitution says there must be five members in the commission and we want to hold the elections in accordance with the constitutional terms,” Zameer is quoted as saying.

“There is nothing stopping us from doing so, is there?”

However, Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid decided on Wednesday to not hold any further parliament meetings ahead of the upcoming election, claiming that he had discussed decision with leaders of the political parties.

Zameer nevertheless called on the oversight committee to review the names submitted by the President, and for the parliament to vote on the matter at the earliest opportunity.

“If the parliament cooperates, then this will not prove to be a difficult task,” Zameer stated.

PPM’s Zameer and MP Ahmed Nihan were not responding to calls at the time of press.

Meanwhile, President Abdulla Yameen on Wednesday nominated four persons to posts in the EC, submitting their names to parliament.

The names sent were Mohamed Zahid, Mohamed Shakeel, Ahmed Sulaiman, and Fathimath Muna.

While the parliament committee maintains that the posts held by Fuwad and Fayaz are not vacant, a replacement for the fifth commission seat has been unanimously approved by the parliament.

The position was previously filled by ‘Ogaru’ Mohamed Waheed who had resigned due to ill health during last year’s presidential election. The new appointee is president’s nominee Ismail Habeeb.

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Islamic Minister states MVR 35 million deposited in the Hajj Corporation to date

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has stated that to date, MVR35 million has been deposited in the accounts of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.

Speaking at the launching of PPM Parliamentary Candidate Ahmed Nihan’s campaign, Minister Shaheem stated that the “large amount of money deposited in the corporation in such a short period of time shows the level of trust that the citizens have in the corporation”.

The minister further revealed that both the previous and the incumbent administrations have provided financial aid to the corporation, detailing that the Yameen administration has so far provided MVR5 million.

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Road construction work commences in Gaaf Alif Atoll Villin’gili

The government has begun work on road construction in the island of Villin’gili in Gaaf Alif Atoll on Tuesday.

The project is handled by Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) and was inaugurated by Villin’gili’s former Council President Saudh Hussain and MRDC Chairperson.

The MRDC stated that 50 kilometers of road will be constructed on the island, making up a total of 15 roads.

The government has further contracted the MRDC to build roads on seven other islands.

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CMDA states that government will cooperate to appoint more females to boards of directors

The Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) has had confirmation it will receive complete government support in its initiative to appoint more females to the boards of directors of various companies.

The CMDA stated that in meetings with its CEO President Abdulla Yameen has agreed to support the authority’s initiative to introduce changes to the Corporate Governance Code, making it obligatory that 30 percent of all company boards registered with the authority by 2016 must be female.

The development authority further stated that 24 percent of participants in the director training and corporate governance awareness programmes held to date are female. Thereby, the authority is confident that there are a high number of qualified and capable female professionals in the country.

The authority further revealed that it has plans to conduct training to increase female participation in company boards.

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New network launched to support the rights of disabled children

Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has launched the Child Advocacy Network of Disability Organisations (CAN DO) aimed at protecting and promoting the rights and well-being of children with disabilities.

“A recent study commissioned by ARC on the child protection system revealed a broad range of gaps and challenges, among which include the need for a special focus on protecting and promoting the rights and well-being of children with disabilities,” said ARC’s Executive Director Zenshya Shaheed Zaki.

The new network aims to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Maldives Disability Act, in order that “every child with disabilities in the country can live with full rights and dignity and are provided with opportunities to realize his or her full potential,” an ARC press release explained.

CAN DO will take steps to bridge the identified gaps in a number of ways, including improving access to information, raising awareness, conducting training, and enhancing early detection and intervention.

Founding members of CAN DO also include the Association for Disability and Development, Beautiful Eyes Down Syndrome Association of Maldives, Blind and Visually Impaired Association of Maldives, the Care Society, the Maldives Autism Association, Maldives Deaf Association, and the Maldives Association of Physical Disables.

Zenysha explained that CAN DO plans to strengthen the network of children’s disability charities, noting that lots of NGOs work with different types of disabilities and that CAN DO will be a good way to strengthen these collaborations and encourage a “greater focus in society into the issue of disabilities”.

“There are very few opportunities for disabled children to get education,” Zenysha stated. “It’s a huge issue that needs allot of work put in from the government.”

She went on to point out that the Maldives is lacking in specialist disability schools, citing the example of having only one school in the Maldives that specialises in blind or partially sighted education. Furthermore, in this school there is only one class – which cannot cater to the demand, she added.

As well as raising awareness of SEN schools and disabled education access, CAN DO will provide disability related training courses.

“This will create a more coordinated approach,” stated Zenysha,  and create “long term opportunities” for those who take part.

According to the Human Rights Commission (HRCM), in 2009 there were 2,250 children with disabilities registered in the Maldives and of these children only 230 had access to education.

The HRCM has this week begun hearings into its National Inquiry in to Access to Education for Children with Disabilities, in Kaafu atoll. The inquiry will examine the practices, policies, and laws related to education for children with disabilities.

ARC and CAN DO are currently planning events to celebrate Children’s Day, which takes place on the 10th May.

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Fenaka Corporation contracted to establish sewerage system in Maamendhoo

The government has contracted state utilities company Fenaka Corporation to establish a sewerage system in the island of Maamendhoo in Laamu Atoll.

In an event held in the Environment Ministry on Tuesday, the government contracted the Corporation to construct the sewerage system in a period of 18 months with a budget of MVR31 million.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Environment Thoriq Ibrahim and Fenaka Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Nimal.

Speaking to press after the event, Thoriq stated that the development of an island depended on the maintaining of peace and unity in the island, and that the government will keep this in mind when initiating such projects.

He also called on local councils in the islands to cooperate with development projects initiated by the government.

Feneka Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Nimal stated that physical work on the project will begin in the next 14 days and that the project is expected to be completed within the estimated timeframe.

On March 3, the government also contracted the Feneka Corporation to establish sewerage systems in the islands of Burunee and Madifushi in Thaa Atoll.

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