Maldives News Bulletin Volume 102

Date: July 30, 2024 | Volume: 102

The Vice President attends inauguration of the President-elect of Iran

His Excellency Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has arrived in the Islamic Republic of Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President-elect of Iran, His Excellency Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, as the Special Envoy of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives. Upon arrival at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), the Vice President was received by His Excellency Dr. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Deputy Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran. The inauguration ceremony of the President of Iran will be held on July 30, 2024. The Maldives reinstated diplomatic relations with Iran on 10 March 2023

Newly appointed Ambassador of the European Union to the Maldives calls on Minister Zameer

The newly appointed Ambassador of European Union to the Republic of Maldives, Maria Carmen Moreno Raymundo, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, following the presentation of her credentials to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu this morning.

Minister Zameer congratulated Ambassador Moreno on the presentation of her letter of credence to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and expressed hope to work closely to enhance further cooperation with the European Union during her tenure. The Minister also highlighted the issues faced by Maldivians in applying for Schengen visa and stressed on the importance of obtaining visa free access for Maldivians.

Ambassador Moreno thanked the Foreign Minister and reassured the Minister of her commitment to increase engagement between the Maldives and the European Union. Minister Zameer was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, Secretary Bilateral Dr. Hala Hameed, Senior Under Secretary Hassan Hussain Shihab, Senior Political Director Ahmed Haanee Naeem and Chief Desk Officer Aminath Shaistha Hamdan Zaki.

Maldives to maintain friendly ties with all except Israel

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer has stated that the Maldives will maintain friendly relations with all countries except those with extremely negative stances, such as Israel. He made these remarks on a PSM News programme discussing the foreign policy initiatives of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Speaking to PSM News, Minister Zameer emphasised that President Dr. Muizzu’s foreign policy is pro-Maldives, aiming to collaborate with any nation that aligns with the constitution and laws of the Maldives. He said the policy is crucial for the Maldives and affirmed friendship with all countries, excluding Israel. He also that despite its small size, the Maldives has significantly supported Palestine.

Additionally, Minister Zameer highlighted that the government is collaborating with other countries to address the economic challenges facing the Maldives. He also expressed optimism that the situation will improve in the future and noted that President Dr. Muizzu’s economic policies are receiving commendations from global leaders.

Furthermore, Minister Zameer pointed out that efforts to increase the per capita income of the Maldives are making progress. He said that President Dr. Muizzu’s economic and foreign policies will enhance development and welfare in the Maldives. He said that the government will pursue actions beneficial to the Maldivian citizens.

Newly appointed Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Maldives calls on Minister Zameer

The newly appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Siri Walt, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, following the presentation of her credentials to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu this morning.

During the meeting, Minister Zameer congratulated Ambassador Dr. Walt on her appointment and offered his well wishes for her tenure. Minister Zameer highlighted the collaborative efforts between the two countries in the past and expressed his hope for further cooperation in the future. Ambassador Dr. Walt offered her thanks to the Foreign Minister and stated that Switzerland is ready to explore avenues of increased cooperation to strengthen bilateral relations and find solutions to common challenges.

Minister Zameer was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, Secretary Bilateral Dr. Hala Hameed, Senior Under Secretary Hassan Hussain Shihab, Senior Political Director Ahmed Haanee Naeem and Deputy Desk Officer Khadeeja Aufiyau.

Newly appointed High Commissioner of New Zealand to the Maldives calls on Minister Zameer

The newly appointed High Commissioner of New Zealand to the Republic of Maldives, David Pine, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Moosa Zameer, today, following the presentation of his letter of credence to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu at a ceremony held at the President’s Office.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Zameer congratulated High Commissioner Pine on his appointment as the new High Commissioner of New Zealand to Maldives and expressed interest to further strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and increasing people-topeople ties. High Commissioner Pine also conveyed his gratitude to the Foreign Minister and expressed his dedication to enhancing collaboration between New Zealand and Maldives during his tenure.

Minister Zameer was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, Secretary Bilateral Dr Hala Hameed, Senior Under Secretary Hassan Hussain Shihab, Assistant Director Saifulla Waleed and Assistant Director Fathimath Zeyna Abdulla Saeed.

WHO invites Maldives to apply for its prestigious awards

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Maldives to submit applications for its prestigious awards. The Ministry of Health has revealed that applications are now being accepted for the annual World Health Assembly awards, which will be presented at next year’s event.

MoU signed to develop detailed charts of Maldives environment

AGO directs MIRA to intensify efforts to recover state funds

The Auditor General’s Office (AGO) has directed the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) to take stronger actions to recover the funds owed to the state. The 2022 audit report published by MIRA indicated that the government is owed more than USD 908 million as of 2022. The report highlighted issues with the consistent receipt of state revenues and the state’s inability to recover the amounts owed. By 2022, the government is expected to collect over USD 908 million in taxes and other revenues, primarily from resort rents. It was also found that USD 600 million of the outstanding resort rent included over USD 400 million in penalties and interest for non-payment. The report noted the authority’s various efforts to recover the state funds. Defaulters have been given 30-day notices to remind them of their payments, and their names have been published on the MIRA website and in the Government Gazette. In addition, details of the defaulters have been shared monthly with the Ministry of Tourism. The report also noted that MIRA has been collaborating with the tourism ministry to address the issue of increasing resort rent arrears. Despite these efforts, the AGO has directed MIRA to implement regular enforcement measures to recover the large outstanding amounts. It also urged MIRA to strengthen the existing measures.

The audit report also revealed that MIRA has not adhered to court orders regarding the payment of state funds. It also noted that the tourism ministry has repeatedly requested the authority’s guidance on how to proceed in cases where agreements were wrongly terminated by the court. The majority of the debt is owed by resort operators, whose names have been publicly disclosed, and the court has ordered them to make payments. However, the enforcement measures against these operators have not been effectively implemented. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that as of May this year, the total amount of money owed to the state has increased to over USD 973 million.

Malaysian Airlines to resume flights to Maldives

Malaysian Airlines is set to resume flights to the Maldives, starting from August 1st . The airline’s first flight will be made by a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a seating capacity of 174 passengers. A special ceremony is planned to welcome the inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Velana International Airport (VIA). The event will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), as well as dignitaries from Malaysia Airlines. Malaysia is a popular destination for many Maldivians, and similarly, the number of Malaysian tourists visiting the Maldives has been on the rise. Last year alone, the Maldives welcomed over 13,000 tourists from Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia, halted its flights to the Maldives in 2017

Supreme Court declares RTI Act applies to SOEs

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has upheld the High Court’s decision affirming that the Right to Information Act applies to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and cannot be invalidated. The decision arose from a case initiated by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which said that the guidelines issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office under the act contradicts the law. The Supreme Court reviewed the case and concluded that the guidelines were in compliance with the law.

The court confirmed that the Information Commissioner’s Office is authorised to define and elaborate on the act’s provisions through specific guidelines. Consequently, the five-judge panel dismissed MTCC’s claims, stating that the guidelines did not violate any legal principles. The court also noted that the degree of state control over various companies might differ due to varying levels of government oversight. Therefore, Justice Husnu Al Suood, with the consensus of the other judges, affirmed that the High Court’s ruling was correct and would remain unchanged.

In a related case, the Supreme Court also addressed the High Court’s decision upholding the Information Commissioner’s order for the disclosure of salaries and allowances of the board and senior employees of the Bank of Maldives (BML). The Supreme Court ruled that such income and allowances are classified as personal information and are not required to be disclosed, thus overturning the High Court’s order in this instance.

Major political parties agree to reduce number of MPs

The major political parties of the country have concurred to limit the number of Parliamentarians. The Parliamentarians arrived at this decision in the meeting of the Committee on Independent Institutions of the Parliament.

The resolution, introduced by Parliamentarian Ibrahim Shujau, aims to address concerns over the escalating size of the Parliament with each election cycle. The resolution states that the parliament witnessed a significant rise in membership every five years. Shujau highlighted the public has expressed growing apprehension regarding this trend, especially in light of the increasing financial burden it places on the state. He criticised constitutional provisions that automatically increase the number of members based on population growth, underscoring the dire need to address this issue.

Immigration warns against housing undocumented migrants

Controller General of the Maldives Immigration Mohamed Sham’aan Waheed has stated that it is illegal to house undocumented migrants. Maldives Immigration has made significant strides in addressing the issue of undocumented migrants, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Pro-Maldives vision.

As such, 2,069 undocumented migrants have been deported as of July 15 this year, marking an increase since November 16 last year. Weekly raids in the capital Male’ City have led to the arrest and deportation of such undocumented migrants. In a social media post about the ongoing operations, Controller General Sham’aan emphasised that, under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, it is an offense to harbour undocumented migrants. Individuals found guilty under Article 33 of the Immigration Act face a fine of up to USD 3,200. The Controller General has the authority to withhold the individual’s passport for a specified period.

If a foreigner commits the offense, the penalty ranges from USD 973 to USD 3,200, and the Controller General has the power to deport them for a designated period. The newly implemented Immigration Watch programme is being used to tackle illegal immigration. Maldives Immigration aims to find a comprehensive solution to the issue of illegal immigrants in the Maldives within the next three years.

President extends condolences to the Family of Late Abdul Latheef Hussain Maink, Recipient of the National Award for Recognition.

In a message posted on the social media platform ‘X’, the President expressed deep sorrow upon receiving news of the passing of Late Abdul Latheef Hussain Manik. In his post, the President acknowledged the late Abdul Latheef Hussain Manik as a key figure in ushering positive changes to the Maldivian economy.

Amendment proposed to hold Council by-elections biannually

Amendments have been submitted to the existing legislation to hold byelections biannually. Amendments were proposed to the Decentralisation Act and the Local Council Elections Act. These were submitted by Parliamentarians Ismail Shafeeu and Muthasim Ibrahim. Under the current Decentralisation Act, by-elections must be conducted within 60 days following the vacancy of a local council seat. The proposed amendment seeks to extend this period to 183 days.

Parliamentarian Shafeeu noted that frequent vacancies have led to numerous by-elections within short intervals, thereby increasing state expenditure. The proposed changes stipulate that the Local Government Authority (LGA) must inform the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) within 14 days of a seat becoming vacant, with the by-election to be held within 183 days. If a vacancy results in a council lacking the necessary quorum for meetings, a new member must be elected within 60 days. However, if the vacancy pertains to a vice president or deputy mayor, the by-election must occur within 30 days of the LGA’s notification to the ECM.

Meanwhile, the amendment proposed to the Local Council Elections Act indicates that by-elections must be held twice a year. It specifies that the interval between these two annual by-elections should be no less than 120 days and no more than 183 days. The rule does not apply to vacancies of vice presidents and deputy mayors. While these amendments have been proposed, by-elections cannot be held within 365 days before the council’s tenure is complete. Also, the members elected through the by-elections will serve until the respective council’s tenure is complete. Public Accounts Committee approves Munawwar for MMA GovernorThe Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament has approved the former Minister of Finance Ahmed Munawwar for the Governor position of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

The approval was unanimous and came after an interview with Munawwar. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu sent Ahmed Munawwar’s name seeking parliamentary approval on July 22, following the dismissal of Ali Hashim, who served as the MMA Governor. The decision was taken by the president, with the recommendation of the Parliament. Upon proposing Munawwar’s name for approval, the Parliament sent the case to the Public Accounts Committee on July 23, for further investigation on the case. During the investigation process, the committee opened the opportunity for individuals to submit complaints against Munawwar as well. After that, he was interviewed and scored an average of 94.73 marks, hence gaining the approval of the committee, who saw Munawwar capable of serving as the MMA Governor.

Ali Hashim was dismissed from the governor’s position as the committee found that he had not been performing his duties effectively as governor, particularly at a time when the government was raising funds from the domestic market and required effective regulation. Under the Maldivian Constitution, the president has the authority to remove the Governor of the MMA based on the advice of Parliament.

Hashim was appointed MMA Governor on September 8, 2019. Following Hashim’s removal from the post, the president has recommended the name of the former Finance Minister Ahmed Munawar, to the post. The former finance minister is the current Advisor to the Minister of Finance and has served MMA for over ten years.

Maldives can only fully benefit from its environment if it is protected: Minister Thoriq

Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has emphasised that the Maldives can only fully benefit from its natural environment if it is protected and managed sustainably. He made the statement at the launch of a programme aimed at training local councils to formulate management plans for protected marine areas.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister Thoriq highlighted that 89 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Maldives is tied to its natural environment, with tourism and fisheries being key sectors. He also stressed that the prosperity of these sectors is dependent on the proper management of natural resources and protected environments. Additionally, Minister Thoriq said that the goal of the training programme is to ensure collaboration between the ministry, local councils, and the public in managing protected areas. He referred to the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to designate 30 percent of the world’s areas as protected by 2030, and said that the Maldives is committed to protecting significant areas under the framework.

Currently, only five of the protected areas in the Maldives, representing two percent, are well-maintained, while 91 areas are not adequately managed. To address the issue, two training programmes will be conducted in different regions of the Maldives to help councils develop management plans for these areas.

The councils are being trained under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme of the United Kingdom (UK), funded by the British government. It is the first training programme focused on managing protected marine areas. The environment ministry announced that council office employees from islands near the 91 protected areas are participating in the programme. As such, plans will be developed for three areas that currently lack management plans. The training lasts for one day, and a second session will be held in the southern atolls of the Maldives later this year.