News

Nasheed resigns as Parliament’s Speaker

Published

6 months ago

13/11/2023

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed resigned from his position as Parliament Speaker on Monday, ending a monthlong battle between lawmakers from the Maldivian Democratic Party and Democrats – as the MDP sought to oust their former leader from his position as the head of the state legislative body.

The MDP submitted a no-confidence motion against Nasheed with the endorsement of 49 MPs on October 9.

The Parliament had been scheduled to hear the motion at 11:00 am on Monday, but lawmakers from both the MDP and Democrats disrupted the sitting. Democrats expressed concern over the delay in budget work, while MDP lawmakers demanded that Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, Nasheed’s cousin and fellow Democrats member, step down from chairing the sitting.

Eva adjoined the sitting, citing a state of disorder.

But the Parliament’s Secretariat rescheduled the motion again for 04:00 pm. The sitting was chaired by Addu Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef – a lawmaker from MDP.

Shareef announced that Nasheed had sent a letter to the Parliament’s Secretary General Fathimath Niusha, informing of his resignation.

In the letter, Nasheed wrote that he was reigning following consideration of the impact the motion could have on the democratic process.

He accused MDP of threatening fundamental democratic principles.

The MDP had originally submitted no-confidence motions against both Nasheed and Eva earlier this year. The motion against Eva was submitted with the endorsement on 50 MPs in May, and the motion against Nasheed followed, with the endorsement of 54 MPs, in June.

But the MDP withdrew the motions in September, while the party was engaged in negotiations with the Democrats – the party to which both Nasheed and Eva belong – for the presidential runoff election.

The recent motion against Nasheed, which was initially tabled for October 26th, had remained stymied after Eva called in sick all through that week.

The Parliament’s Secretariat had decided that only the Deputy Speaker can chair sittings in the event of a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

The MDP lodged a constitutional case with the Supreme Court, which last week found the Secretariat’s decision to halt the motion unconstitutional.

In his resignation letter, Nasheed wrote that the Supreme Court, in its judgement, had stated that the court cannot interfere in the affairs of the Parliament unless under exceptional circumstances, in order to prevent the court’s rulings from getting political.

“But I regret that the words and actions of the Supreme Court do not correspond in this instance,” he wrote.

Nasheed added that he also regrets the actions of the MDP, which holds a majority at the Parliament, describing it as “a great injustice to the Maldivian people.”

“I find that remaining the Parliament’s Speaker will continue to escalate the damage the majority party is doing to the Parliament. I therefore resign from by position as Parliament’s Speaker,” he wrote.

Nasheed said he hopes his resignation will pave the path for the “restoration of stability and integrity under the democratic system.”

The resignation is a U-turn from when Nasheed, shortly after the Supreme Court judgement, sent a text to the Parliament’s Whatsapp group saying that the court case had thwarted the motion for five days, and that he believes he can continue to stall it until after President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu takes office on November 17.

MDP has also submitted a no-confidence motion against Eva, after accusing her of thwarting the motion against Nasheed.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Police officers complete training to prevent maritime terrorism acts

Published

2 hours 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

2 hours 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

News

President pledges to advance telecom and markets for Maldivian products

Published

2 hours ago

17/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to lead the nation towards a future of improved telecommunications infrastructure while simultaneously fostering and securing markets for the commercialization of domestic products. These commitments were articulated by the president in commemoration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

In a widely circulated social media post, President Dr. Muizzu affirmed his dedication to opening up the country to cutting-edge communication channels and platforms. Furthermore, he reiterated his unwavering commitment to leveraging international markets to showcase the talents and products of Maldivians, thereby generating revenue for the nation.

President Dr. Muizzu’s vision includes the introduction of innovative financial services and transactions within the country. In line with this pledge, the Bank of Maldives (BML) initiated financial transaction services in March, offering online money transfer platforms such as digital wallets. Additionally, preparations are underway to introduce E-wallet services, which will streamline financial transactions through platforms like PayPal.

Source(s): PsmNews