News

ACC: Almost 60 percent of flat recipients ineligible

Published

3 months ago

05/02/2024

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) states 59.6 percent of the people who were listed as recipients of flats under the former administration’s ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme are ineligible to receive flats under the scheme.

In a press briefing on Monday, ACC said point allocation had not been carried out fairly when evaluating the applicants who applied for the 4,000 flats. In this regard, some applicants were unfairly allocated additional points, while some applicants had provided contradictory information on their applications.

Therewith, ACC, following their investigations, concluded a high possibility of the infringement of the rights of many people.

The commission’s investigative team said that applications that met the criteria and did not have any further issues totaled at 20.7 percent while applications that met the criteria but lacked all required information totaled at 19.7 percent.

They had reviewed 4,048 applications as part of their investigation.

ACC noted that some applicants had submitted false documents to establish they had been residing at Male’ for 15 years straight. Moreover, some applicants had been deemed eligible to receive flats without verifying the information provided through the portal as per the commission.

An official on the investigative team detailed that letters claiming the applicant had been working with the company before the date of the company’s inception were submitted by applicants to establish they had been employed in Male’.

Issues noted in the allocation of points included the award of points reserved for individuals who are responsible for the care of a person with disabilities for applicants who have not stated they carry such a responsibility.

The publication of the list of the recipients of 4,000 flats developed by Fahi Dhiru Ulhun Corporation (FDC) in Hulhumale’ triggered protests from the public over the point allocation. A total of 325 complaints were submitted to ACC over the list.

ACC had previously ordered the suspension of the issuance of flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, following complaints of irregularities. The prolonged investigation sparked protests from recipients of the flats.

The commission lifted the suspension on Thursday, instructing the Housing Ministry to abide by certain rules while issuing the flats.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Maldivian FM meets Qatari PM; both commit to stronger ties

Published

1 day ago

12/05/2024

Maldives and Qatar reaffirm the commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two countries on Sunday, in a meeting between Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar.

Zameer, who is on an official visit to Qatar, met with Al Thani on Sunday morning.

At the meeting, Zameer reflected on the growing Maldives-Qatar partnership, and thanked Qatar for the generous assistance in Maldives’ socio-economic development.

According to a statement released by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, both Zameer and Al Thani reiterated the commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Zameer also conveyed appreciation for Qatar’s role in the mediation process on the Gaza crisis.

Both reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the partnership in the multilateral fora on matters of global concern.

Zameer was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary, Bilateral, Dr. Hala Hameed, Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Fazeel Najeeb, and Assistant Director, Lamha Saleem.

This year will mark the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Maldives and Qatar.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Zameer is also scheduled to meet with other senior officials from the Qatari government to explore opportunities to enhance cooperation in various sectors between the two countries.

Zameer’s latest trip comes at the heels of a similar visit to India last week.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

President recognises forefront services of nurses

Published

1 day ago

12/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has praised the dedicated efforts of nurses, stating that they fulfil a national obligation by providing forefront services. He made the remarks on a social media post, commemorating International Nurses Day.

In the post shared on social media, President Dr. Muizzu recognised the unwavering commitment of nurses, characterising their contributions and services as a valuable, significant responsibility for humanity. The president additionally commended the dedication of nurses for ensuring the provision of cutting edge care.

The International Nurses Day is annually celebrated on May 12, aiming to acknowledge the pivotal role nurses play, as they are the backbone of the healthcare system. The theme for International Nurses Day 2024 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.” The purpose of selecting the theme was to emphasise the significance of reshaping perceptions of the economic and societal advantages of the nursing field, such that nursing can be seen as an investment rather than a cost.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Government launches Hope Island for crime-exposed kids

Published

1 day ago

12/05/2024

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced the launch of Hope Island, a rehabilitation initiative aimed at children exposed to crime.

Speaking at a collaborative press briefing involving agencies under the homeland ministry, Minister Ali Ihusaan outlined the planning efforts for Hope Island. He emphasised the provision of fundamental education and religious guidance for the children residing there. He also highlighted the implementation of psychosocial intervention and sports programmes on the island.

Additionally, Minister Ihusaan disclosed that children would reside on Hope Island until they turn 18 years, and serve a designated term in either the Maldives Police Service (MPS) or the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Subsequently, he said that they would be granted opportunities to pursue their chosen careers.

Furthermore, Minister Ihusaan announced a reduction in the age of criminal responsibility to 15 years, with previous advocacy for lowering it to 12 years. He cited instances of 12-year-olds engaging in criminal activities and revealed ongoing legal initiatives, in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), to effect the change.

Moreover, Minister Ihusaan revealed plans to direct 12-year-old offenders to Hope Island for rehabilitation, with a dedicated facility established to mitigate exposure to criminal influences. He also disclosed intentions to develop a separate island specifically for this rehabilitation facility.

Source(s): PsmNews