News

EC schedules Majlis elections for first week of Ramadan

Published

4 months ago

10/01/2024

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that this year’s parliamentary elections will be held on March 17 – which falls within the month of Ramadan.

The term of the current parliamentary assembly expires on May 28.

The law dictates that the EC must initiate the process of holding the elections 120 days before the parliamentary term expires – which means the election date falls on Ramadan.

But the EC had held off finalizing a date, as it deliberated on calls to postpone the elections to after Ramadan.

In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, the EC said the elections will be held on March 17 – which falls within the first week of Ramdan.

EC said that the commission faces major administrative challenges in holding the elections after Ramadan, as schools are set to reopen in the week after the Eid holidays, which means the commission will face challenges in getting election centers.

The EC also said that given that the last 10 days of the Ramadan have been declared public holidays, the commission would face difficulties in carrying out election-related work in collaboration with relevant state institutions.

EC had originally asked the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee to make legal amendments to push up the date for parliamentary elections to before Ramadan. However, the committee recommended postponing the election to after Ramadan.

The decision by EC to hold the elections on March 17 comes after the main opposition MDP sent a letter to the EC last week, urging the commission to hold the elections after Ramadan.

In the letter, MDP said they had been informed the commission planned on holding the elections during Ramadan, and alleged that the decision involves government influence.

The party urged the commission not to bow down to pressure from the government, and to hold the elections after the Ramadan – as recommended by the Parliament, the National Advisory Committee, as well as individual political parties, and rights watchdogs such as the ACC, HRCM, and Transparency Maldives.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Developmental projects of Maldives progressing substantially

Published

15 hours ago

18/05/2024

India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar has affirmed that the developmental projects of the Maldives carried out with the assistance of India have been progressing considerably. The remarks were made by the minister during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CIIs) Annual Business Summit.

Speaking at the summit, Minister Jaishankar stated that some developmental projects were slightly politically influenced, hindering the progress. However, he assured that the progress of the projects have propelled at a notable rate.

Following the Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer’s official visit to India at the invitation of Minister Jaishankar, discussions were held highlighting the spectrum of initiatives across the nation has been kickstarted through loans and grants from the Government of India during the previous administration. He emphasised the current government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to the development and prosperity of the Maldives by extending a budgetary support of USD 50 million to be repaid within a term of one year.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Police officers complete training to prevent maritime terrorism acts

Published

1 day ago

17/05/2024

A team of 22 police officers has successfully completed a specialised training programme focused on thwarting maritime terrorism activities.

Entitled “Training on Strengthening Capabilities to Disrupt Maritime Crimes as Related to Terrorist Threats,” the program was conducted through a collaborative effort between the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Running from May 13 to 15, the intensive training equipped participants with essential skills and knowledge crucial for combating threats in maritime environments.

The concluding ceremony, graced by the presence of Chief Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Adnan Anees, Head of Marine Police, along with senior officials from the Marine Police Department, UNODC’s Head of Office Enrico Boninsegna, and course instructor Kenneth Alferdo Pennington, highlighted the significance of such initiatives in enhancing national security.

Addressing the gathering, Adnan underscored the importance of ongoing education and skill development, urging participants to actively apply the knowledge garnered from the program in their professional endeavors.

The training, conducted at Dhoonidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, imparted vital insights into the prevention and detection of maritime terrorism activities, emphasizing protocols for safe navigation in high-risk areas. Furthermore, officers received guidance on investigative procedures essential for effectively addressing such crimes, thereby bolstering the nation’s capabilities in combating maritime threats.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

President reverts land act amendment to parliament

Published

1 day ago

17/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reverted the Ninth Amendment Bill to the Maldives Land Act to Parliament for further consideration.

This bill, which seeks to establish criteria for recipients of residential land and mandates that land be allocated within three months of the publication of the permanent list of recipients in the gazette, was initially passed during the twenty-second sitting of Parliament’s first session this year and sent to the President’s Office for ratification on May 2.

In returning the bill, President Muizzu invoked Article 91(a) of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to return legislation to Parliament for reconsideration.

The President’s Office has confirmed this, indicating the need for further review and potential revisions to the proposed amendment.

Source(s): PsmNews