News

President says election day will be made a public holiday

Published

3 months ago

03/03/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says that he will declare April 21 – when the parliamentary elections is scheduled to take place – as a public holiday.

He made the remark while addressing a rally in R. Dhuvaafaru on Sunday.

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

But an MDP-sponsored bill banning national elections in Ramadan was ratified last week.

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

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that the election will now be held on April 21 – a Sunday – instead of during the weekend – when national elections are usually held.

But the new date sparked criticism, with the main opposition MDP, going as far as to suggest the decision was influenced by the government.

Addressing the allegations on Sunday, President Muizzu said he himself became aware of the new election date from media reports.

He said that he clarified the reason for the election date from the EC.

“They said they set it that way to follow the law. I told them that since you have already announced the date, I will designate the day a public holiday,” he said.

The remarks come after the EC made a formal request with the government earlier on Sunday to have both April 21 and 22 declared a public holiday.

In a rally on Friday night, MDP’s advisor, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, accused his successor, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, of influencing the EC into holding the elections on a working day.

In a post on X on Saturday, Fuad Thaufeeq, the chairman of EC, rejected the allegations.

He that the election was being held on April 21st because, it is “the first day available, 10 days after Ramadan.”

He added that delaying it any further would risk not being able to elect the next parliamentary assembly, at least one month before the term of the incumbent assembly expires, as required by law.

The MDP had submitted legislature banning elections in Ramadan, citing a likely low voter turnout.

The Parliament – which MDP holds a majority in – originally passed the bill on February 11th.

But it was rejected by the president two weeks later, citing that some of the provisions were in contravention of the constitution, and that changing the election date would result in “loss of public confidence.”

But the same bill was passed again, on Wednesday.

A day later, the president, after initially questioning the legality of the bill, signed it into law.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Police officers complete training to prevent maritime terrorism acts

Published

15 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

15 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

15 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