News

Minister: Not government policy to penalize councils

Published

2 months ago

10/03/2024

Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar says it is not government policy to penalize councils in response to decisions it makes.

Noonu Kendhikulhudhoo Council had issued a statement in February, in which it accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of misusing state resources to campaign for the parliamentary elections during his current tour of the atolls.

The Local Government Authority (LGA) responded by sending a letter to the council, telling it to retract the statement.

The move sparked criticism against the LGA.

And last week, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said he does not believe the LGA has the legal authority to force councils to retract statements.

In a press briefing on Sunday, Adam Shareef said the LGA operates as an independent institution.

Clarifying the government’s stand, he said he does not believe the LGA will hereafter penalize councils in response to decisions or statements.

“Even if there’s a ministry, the Local Government Authority is operating within its mandate declared on the Decentralization Act,” he said.

He added that any legal violations by the LGA will be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office, while any possible constitutional or legal violations by councils will be investigated by the LGA.

“The government’s stand is clear in this. I therefore do not believe [the LGA] will take action in response to such statements,” he said.

However, Dr. Mariyam Zulfa, the CEO of LGA, defended the authority’s decision.

She said that if the Attorney General’s Office is unhappy with a decision by the LGA, then the law dictates that the LGA run an inquiry.

She said that she decided against conducting an inquiry due to the “sensitivity” of the issue, and because it would ultimately prove pointless.

“After we open an inquiry, it would already be redundant,” she said.

Zulfa said she accepts the Attorney General’s opinion as “sound legal counsel”, but that she ordered the Kendhikulhudhoo Council to retract its statement because its defamatory.

She said that another reason for the move is because policy dictates that councils pass statements and decisions in a general meeting.

She said that the council did not follow this policy before issuing the statement.

“I sent that letter to counsel them as the head of this institution, because I found that the statement, rather than an inquiry, required counsel and an instructive measure,” she said.

Zulfa added that the LGA has previously also taken such measures in response to decisions and statements by councils.

Kendhikulhudhoo Council, in its statement, accused President Muizzu of appealing for votes for the ruling PPM-PNC, in an event organized by the council.

The council said the president did so without its permission.

It also refused to follow LGA’s orders to retract the statement.

The main opposition MDP reacted to the situation by accusing the government of intimidating councils, and attempting to constrict its powers.

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