The Cabinet of Ministers has been given the power to award special projects that improve basic needs and quality of life for the general public, as well as projects for security services, without bidding. An amendment to the Public Finance Regulation states that projects identified as improving basic needs and quality of life for the general public, as well as special projects for security services, can be carried out through “single source procurement” when proposed to the Ministry by a relevant government office and approved by the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee under procedures set by the Ministry.
The amendment states that if the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee decides to award a specific project proposed to the Ministry by a government office under the “Public Sector Investment Program”, the Minister has the discretion to exempt the requirement for security and performance guarantees. It also states that the regulation does not prevent the use of special criteria set by the Ministry to verify the financial capability of companies awarded exempted projects.
MIFCO has released 3.6 million rufiyaa to fishermen. MIFCO said that payments for fish weighed at MIFCO centers from boats on the 25th of this month will be deposited between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM today. They also stated that other bank transfers will be cleared before 4:30 PM on the next day banking services are open. According to MIFCO, 43 fishing boats weighed fish on the 25th. They also said that a total of 3,674,365 rufiyaa has been paid to these boats.
MIFCO also sells fuel to fishermen on credit. And that money is being deducted from the payments for fish weighed at MIFCO. The President continues to provide comprehensive solutions to the long-standing major challenges in the fishing industry and for fishermen.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists visiting the Maldives from China so far this year has reached 57,157. Statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism yesterday show that as of the 25th of this month, the number of tourists from China to the Maldives has reached 57,157. According to these statistics, while 411,290 tourists have come to the Maldives so far this year, this is a significant increase compared to the number of tourists who came to the Maldives during the same period last year. During this period last year, 386,217 tourists had visited the Maldives.
According to the ministry’s statistics, Russia is second on the list of countries with the most tourists visiting the Maldives. 40,511 tourists have come from that country. The United Kingdom is third on the list with 40,203 tourists, while Italy, which is fourth, has brought 37,502 tourists to the Maldives.
Currently, 172 resorts are operating in the Maldives, along with 15 hotels, 795 guesthouses, and 155 safari vessels. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the government’s target for this year is to bring 2.3 million tourists to the Maldives.
Many members of the Progressive National Congress (PNC) in the People’s Majlis have called for Ahmed Azaan, the PNC member for Hithadhoo Central Constituency, to be removed from two powerful committees and transferred to two other committees in the Majlis. There have been differences of opinion between Azaan and PNC members for some time. These differences intensified when Azaan began speaking against the bill to amend the law on courts in the Maldives, which would reduce the Supreme Court bench from seven to five judges and mandate the removal of two judges. Azaan has violated the three-line whip by not participating in two votes related to the bill.
Therefore, many PNC members believe that action needs to be taken against Azaan. Many Majlis members of PNC have expressed their dissatisfaction with Azaan’s actions to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Azaan is currently a member of the two most powerful committees in the Majlis: the Public Finance Committee and the Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee). These two committees include many politically experienced members.
These include Majlis Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, Eydhafushi constituency member Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem), MDA President Ahmed Siyam, MNP leader Mohamed Nazim, and Hanimaadhoo constituency MDP member Abdulghafoor Moosa.
Some PNC members said that strict action should be taken against those who act against the decisions of the PNC leadership and the PNC parliamentary group. They said this is something that must be done to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
“If no action is taken, tomorrow they will violate another decision. These are steps that need to be taken to keep the parliamentary group united. We are ready to do whatever it takes to defend President Dr. Muizzu’s government. So this team should only have players who play for the same side. Not players who play for and help the opposition team win,” said a PNC member.
Another PNC member said that due to violating the party’s three-line whip, Azaan should be removed from the Public Finance Committee and 241 Committee and transferred to ordinary committees. He said that sincere and honest members should be given space in those committees. “The 241 Committee is a committee where many state or government secrets will be revealed. The Public Finance Committee is one of the most important committees of the Majlis where a lot of financial information will be known. People who oppose PNC decisions should not be on these two committees,” the member said.
Azaan, who has been speaking against the bill to amend the law on courts in the Maldives to reduce the Supreme Court bench from seven to five judges and mandate the removal of two judges, did not participate in the vote to accept the bill. He also did not participate in yesterday’s vote to decide on passing the bill. Many people noticed when Azaan left the Majlis floor when the vote was called to pass the bill. PNC member for Hoarafushi constituency Abdussattar Mohamed passed the bill to amend the law on courts through a roll call vote in the Majlis. The bill passed with a majority of 68 members who participated in the vote. Nine members voted against passing the bill.
While PNC had said they would take action against members who did not vote to accept the bill, Azaan was removed from the WhatsApp group of the party’s Majlis members yesterday. President Dr. Muizzu is also in this group. In a statement issued regarding this, Azaan said he did not support the bill to amend the law on courts because the bill is unconstitutional. Although he opposed the bill, he said he remains with the government and will not hesitate to bring the necessary development to his constituency.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended Supreme Court Justices Husnu Al Suood, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Dr. Azmiraldha Zahir in connection with a case currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court. The decision was made during an ongoing meeting of the JSC under Article 25 (z) of the Judicial Service Commission Act.
The People’s Majlis has just passed a bill to amend the Courts Act, reducing the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices and mandating the dismissal of two justices. This amendment was proposed by PNC member Abdus Sattar Mohamed, MP for Hoarafushi constituency.
The amendment passed with a majority of 68 votes. Nine members voted against the bill.
Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government is not one that will allow anything illegal or that endangers the safety of citizens. The opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against the Minister of Home Affairs and Professional Development, Ali Ihsaan, to the parliament. However, the motion did not pass in the parliament. Referring to this issue, the Vice President said that under Minister Ihsaan’s supervision, many efforts are being made to find comprehensive solutions to the issues of expatriates, drug problems, and other illegal activities, in line with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s vision.
He also said that Maldivian citizens would witness that these efforts are progressing at an unprecedented pace and with success. “A few politicians are leading efforts to show no confidence in Minister Ihsaan to obstruct the President’s vision and destabilize the country. President Dr. Muizzu’s government is not one that will allow anything illegal or that endangers the safety of citizens,” he said.
Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo Central constituency, has been removed from the PNC Parliamentary Group’s WhatsApp group for not attending yesterday’s parliamentary session when the vote was taken to accept the amendment to the Courts Act to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices. The PNC PG group had issued a three-line whip to vote in favor of accepting the bill to amend the law to reduce the Supreme Court bench from seven to five justices. This was because the PNC leadership had decided to pass the bill.
The Majority Leader of the Parliament and Member for Inguraidhoo constituency, Falah, said that the PG leadership is looking into why two members did not participate in the vote. Falah’s tweet did not specify which two members. However, according to “Vaguthu”, the members are Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, MP for Hithadhoo Central constituency, and Ahmed Naseer, PNC MP for Ihavandhoo constituency. The two members came to the parliament yesterday morning. However, their absence from the parliament floor during the voting time has become a significant issue.
The Judiciary Committee passed the government-proposed bill to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices yesterday evening. According to the bill, justices can be dismissed upon the proposal of the Judicial Service Commission and approval by a 2/3 majority of the parliament. The JSC must submit the names of the justices to be dismissed to the parliament within five days of the bill coming into effect. The parliament must decide on this matter within seven days.
Under the Green Constitution, the transitional Supreme Court consisted of five justices. In 2010, a permanent court with seven justices was established. Although the number was reduced to five in 2014, it was increased back to seven in 2019. Currently, the Supreme Court consists of Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan and six other justices. If this bill passes, it will bring a significant change to the structure of the Supreme Court.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the Land Use Plan has been changed to ensure that all those who were allocated plots from the unreclaimed area of Gulhifalhu will now receive plots. Speaking at a meeting with the people of Meedhoo during his ongoing trip to Dhaalu Atoll last night, the President said that thousands of people were allocated plots from Gulhifalhu, including from both the reclaimed area and the deep sea area.
“I want to say to the citizens who were allocated plots from Gulhifalhu, we have now changed the Gulhifalhu Land Use Plan. God willing, all those who were allocated plots from the unreclaimed area will now be accommodated in the currently reclaimed land,” he said. The President said that under the changes to the Land Use Plan, plot allocation will proceed from the reclaimed area. He also said that the necessary facilities for living will be established there, including schools and hospitals.
“Including all these facilities, the plots that were in the unreclaimed area will also be moved to the reclaimed area. Within the next two to three months, we will complete handing over the registrations to all citizens who were allocated plots from Gulhifalhu,” he said. He added that they will physically mark the plot boundaries and hand over the plots.
“The only area that cannot be given is the area closed off for the bridge work. There are some people who were allocated plots from that area too. So except for those whose plots fall in that area, we will physically hand over all other plots to their owners within the next two to three months.”
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he will not allow any party to inconvenience any citizen of the Maldives. Speaking at a meeting with the people of Meedhoo during his ongoing trip to Dhaalu Atoll, the President said that citizens are facing many difficulties in obtaining medicine, and he will not give any party the opportunity to inconvenience the people.
“We will completely stop the efforts made by the private sector to inconvenience the people,” the President said. Noting that those who open pharmacies in Maldivian islands are seen getting rich by taking unfair advantage, the President said that many issues arose when the government stopped the inconveniences caused by private companies.
The President has said that the government is not taking any measures to hinder the transport of medicine to islands, and that pharmacy operators intentionally did this to inconvenience the people. “We stopped that waste for the benefit of the people. We stopped it for the citizens. We are saving the money from stopping that waste to strengthen the health system and run such development projects,” the President said.
According to the President, stopping the waste on medicine by private companies will save more than 500 million rufiyaa. He also said that if any business causes difficulties and inconveniences to the people, the government will stop it. “This government will not give any party the opportunity to inconvenience the people,” the President said.
The President said that although opposition parties were making many efforts to inconvenience the people, the government will not give them that opportunity. In addition, the President has said that this government has solved the dollar shortage faced by the people. The President said he wants to equalize the richest person and the poorest person. He said that is what a just government is, and being just is a responsibility he has.
Therefore, the President said he is facilitating things in a way that eases and comforts the people in order to be just.
