News

Some top PPM-PNC officials remain hesitant to back Muizzu

Published

9 months ago

08/08/2023

Some of the top officials within the leadership of the opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), remain hesitant to endorse Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who filed his candidacy on the PNC presidential ticket, on Monday.

While many of the officials have publicly announced their support for the Male’ city mayor, especially after PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, changed his stance and endorsed his candidacy, some prominent officials have yet to do so.

This includes PNC’s deputy leader and top lawmaker Adam Shareef Umar, who lost the party’s ticket to Muizzu by a slim margin of two votes, and PPM’s deputy leader Ahmed Shiyam, and PNC’s deputy leader Ibrahim Shujau.

Shiyam said that he would respect PPM’s decision, but did not provide a clear answer when asked if he supports Muizzu.

Neither Adam Shareef, nor Shujau responded to texts seeking a comment.

PPM’s advisor, former president Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik – who had previously interested in running for office himself – said he would announce his decision regarding endorsing Muizzu’s candidacy, later.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development on December 25, 2022.

Despite his imprisonment, he submitted his candidacy for the September 9 election last week.

The Elections Commission (EC) rejected Yameen’s candidacy due to his conviction, citing Article 109 (f) of the Constitution, which disqualifies candidates who have been sentenced to over 12 months in prison for a crime, unless it has been at least three years since they have completed their sentence or have been pardoned.

He contested the decision with the Supreme Court, which ruled on Sunday that the EC was right to declare the opposition leader ineligible to contest the election.

Following his unsuccessful attempt to have EC’s decision to reject his candidacy revoked, Yameen sent a note, instructing the PPM-PNC leadership to consider boycotting the election.

However, the leadership convened for an emergency meeting to discuss the instruction, and decided to put the matter to the vote of the joint senate.

The senate decided against boycotting the election with a vote of 67-45.

On Sunday night, Yameen communicated through his spouse, Fathimath Ibrahim that the opposition leader did not accept the senate’s decision.

Muizzu filed his candidacy with the EC on Monday morning, shortly after which Yameen’s top attorney, former vice president Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, announced that the former president had decided to accept the senate’s decision.

Jameel, PNC’s leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Guraidhoo MP Ghassan Maumoon, and nearly all members of the senate have congratulated Muizzu on the senate’s WhatsApp group.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

India denies claims by Maldivian government on unpermitted operation

Published

4 hours ago

14/05/2024

India has denied the claims made by Maldivian Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon last week, alleging Indian military pilots had carried out an operation in the Maldives without the necessary permits.

The High Commission of India in the Maldives released a statement on Tuesday, stating that Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated as per the agreed procedures and with due authorization.

On the contrary, while speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Minister Ghassan said he had knowledge of one of the aviation platforms undertaking an unpermitted trip. He went onto detail an incident where one of the Indian-operated helicopters landed in Th. Thimaraushi, allegedly without permission – a case which he said was reviewed by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee), when he had been a lawmaker.

Referencing the remarks by the Minister, the High Commission said the particular incident which saw an emergency landing at Thimarafushi on October 9th, 2019, was “necessitated due to an unforeseen exigency”.

They added that the landing was carried out after taking necessary on-ground approvals from Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure the safety and security of the platform and crew.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Maldives calls for strong measures to maintain tuna stocks at IOTC

Published

5 hours ago

14/05/2024

The Maldives has called for strong measures to sustain tuna stocks at the 28th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources is attending the five-day session in Bangkok, Thailand. It will address various issues related to the sustainability of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives is advocating for member states to prioritise the sustainability of tuna stocks, focusing on the adoption of strong management measures for drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and shark conservation. Additionally, the Maldives will push for the implementation of a management procedure for skipjack tuna.

During the session, the Maldives emphasised the need for science-based management plans to protect against threats to fisheries and to enhance the restoration and management of tuna stocks. The Maldives also aims for the IOTC to lead Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) in adopting science-based conservation and management measures, reflecting the nation’s dedication to the well-being of coastal communities and the health of tuna stocks.

The IOTC is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for managing tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Maldives to seek UK’s assistance to develop finance sector

Published

5 hours ago

14/05/2024

Maldivian Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, on Monday, traveled to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Roundtable.

According to the Economic Ministry, the purpose of the Minister’s visit is to seek assistance from the participants of UK financial sector in order to develop a vibrant financial market in the Maldives, which the Ministry states is vital for the nation’s economic and social development.

The discussions held by the Minister in this regard will center on the development of Maldives International Financial Services Authority and Development Bank.

In this regard, the Economic Ministry said the visit will pave the way to establish formal working relationships with UK financial services firms on modernizing legal framework, financial sector infrastructure and the development of a modern and world-class governance strategy and operations for the establishment of international financial centres in the Maldives.

Minister Saeed, as part of these efforts, will meet UK government officials, members of the House of Lords and representatives from the UK financial and professional services industry in the course of the visit.

Source(s): sun.mv