News

Supreme court ruling poses questions over legitimacy of Parliament’s decisions: President

Published

3 months ago

29/02/2024

The bill, banning national elections in Ramadan, was passed for the second time on Wednesday, just two days after President Muizzu rejected the bill. The move forces him to ratify the legislature, which he said earlier contained provisions that contradict with the constitution.

And on Thursday morning, the country’s top court ruled that the Parliament cannot disregard vacated seats and count the total seats as 80.

Addressing a rally in N. Kendhikulhudhoo, mere hours after the ruling, President Muizzu said that it had created questions over the legitimacy of all decisions made by the Parliament by considering 80 as the total seats.

He said that this includes the election postponement bill passed on Wednesday, with a majority vote of 47-14.

President Muizzu said that he has asked for counsel from Attorney General Ahmed Usham on how to deal with the bill.

“All decisions made based on total seat count of 80 will therefore be unconstitutional,” he said, referring to the court ruling.

“I have asked for legal counsel from the attorney general. Because a ruling such as this poses questions… regarding the legitimacy of the previous decisions,” he said.

He said that he will make his decision based on counsel from Usham, adding that he would “immediately ratify the bill if he advises as such.”

“If he counsels that the bill passed on Wednesday must be ratified, then I will immediately do so,” he said.

He said that he himself does not want to hold the elections in Ramadan.

“The oath I swore with Almighty Allah as my witness is something I must be responsible for, in this life and the next. Every phrase, every letter of the oath matters to me. I will therefore not violate the Constitution, even the smallest bit,” he said.

President Muizzu said that he himself does not want to have the parliamentary elections held during Ramadan, and that when the Elections Commission (EC) initially asked for an unofficial opinion from his regarding the matter, he had suggested holding the election ahead of Ramadan.

He said that it was the main opposition MDP – which holds a majority in the Parliament – that refused to make necessary legal amendments for pre-Ramadan elections.

He accused MDP of having a “hidden reason” for wanting to postpone the election.

President Muizzu said that Ramadan was a month for religious observances, and he does not want to be involved in campaigning during the month.

‘I do not want to have the elections in Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of worship. Isn’t this why I pledged during my presidential campaign to have government offices closed during the last 10 days [of Ramadan]?” he said.

The parliamentary elections was scheduled for March 17th – which falls within the first week of Ramadan.

But the MDP-sponsored legislature bans national elections during Ramadan.

According to the bill, if an election date falls within Ramadan, it must be held 10 days after Ramadan ends.

The legislature was submitted citing concerns over a likely low voter turnout.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Maldivian FM meets Qatari PM; both commit to stronger ties

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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