President Nasheed acknowledges Addu people’s contribution to tourism industry

The people of Addu Atoll contributed tremendously to the development of the Maldives tourism industry, President Mohamed Nasheed has said while speaking at a function held Tuesday evening at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa.

The President said that the opening of the resort would provide economic activities and employment opportunities to the people of Addu atoll. He also said that the people of Addu atoll are renowned for their hospitality.

At the function, a commemorative plaque was presented to President Nasheed on behalf of Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa. The plaque was presented to the President by the General Manager of Villingili resort Jens Moesker.

During his visit to the resort, the President also met with the media. Addressing the media, the President said he is confident that with a resolution to the Herethere issue, more flights will begin its operations in Addu atoll.

President Nasheed is on a tour of Addu atoll and is expected to visit the islands of Addu atoll to discuss the developmental plans with senior officials of the islands. -HNS

Police raids Malé house without warrant, seizes five PCs

Police on Sunday raided the house of well-known comedian and movie producer/director Yoosuf Rafeeu (Yoosay), M. Big Fish, and confiscated five computers and two hard discs.

According to Yoosay, the Police raided his house around 4:30pm. They had searched through the office space of Bukhaare Company, located on the first floor of the house, and another room on the ground floor, he said.

A Police Media Official said that the house they had searched was not Yoosay’s house M. Big Fish, but a house called M. Roza. They further said that the search was in no way connected to Yoosuf Rafeeu. The Official did not give a reason why Police had raided the house.

“Police did not enter the premises of Big Fish or Bukhaaree Company,” the Media Official said. “They entered a house called M. Roza to investigate some information they had received. They did not enter any other locations.”

Yoosay said that Roza was his father’s house, which was adjacent to M. Big Fish. He further alleged that the Police did not show a warrant authorizing them to search the house.

“In fact it wasn’t even Roza that they entered,” Yoosay said. “Around 20 Police officers surrounded the house and asked where the occupants were. Only the womenfolk were inside the house at the time and they told them that only me, Issey and Ali (Yoosay’s brothers) were in Malé. The Police then told them to call and bring Ali and Issey to the house too. They did not show a Court order, but said that they were doing everything under the authority granted by the Police act. They then entered the house, searched it and seized five computers and some hard discs.”

Denying the allegations made by Yoosay that Police had entered M. Big Fish, the Media Official said that he was not at liberty to reveal whether they did or did not have a Court order to search the premises of M. Roza.

The Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed said that a copy of the Court order should be given to a resident of the house, and the Police should keep the original.

“Only then can a search be carried out,” he said. “There’s no record that a search warrant was issued for M. Roza or M. Big Fish.”

According to Yoosay, his younger brother Ismail Naseer was also taken to the Police Station for questioning, after they confiscated the PCs and hard discs. He said that when he had asked the Police about it they said the equipment had been confiscated because they had received reports that instruction on creating powerful explosives capable of killing many people and causing extensive damage was located on the PCs and hard discs.

“They said that Issey had been taken into custody for questioning because they had received information that Issey was in possession of information that could be used to create powerful weapons that could endanger hundreds of people,” Yoosay said. “Apparently, they also asked him why he was making so many trips abroad. We are businessmen; of course, we have to go make many trips abroad.”

Yoosay said that when Issey was finally released after around 2 hours of questioning, the Police had confiscated his mobile phone. He further said that the five PCs had been returned, minus the hard discs, later that day. He said that the hard discs contained very important and confidential information about his business.

“If anyone saw the information they would literally have a blueprint of the entire business,” he said. “Who we export fish to, prices, contacts, everything is compromised now.” -HNS

Immigration Department asks employers to make new deposits for expatriate workers

Citing difficulties obtaining over Rf200 million in deposits made to the Human Resource Ministry previously by the public to hire expatriate workers, the Immigration Department has called on the employers to make fresh deposits with the Department.

The Controller of Immigration, Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim, said on Tuesday that they had discussed handing over the deposit money previously collected by the Human Resource Ministry over to the Immigration Department but that the funds had so far not been remitted.

“They asked us to begin collecting deposits beginning from 1st of July onwards,” he said. “They said that we should collect the deposit money when the Employment Approval was renewed. When we didn’t get the deposit money from them, we asked the employers to make new deposits.”

Ilyas said that 19 illegal expatriates who were to be sent back to their country were still stuck in Maldives because of the difficulty in getting their deposit money back.

“There must be some reason why the Ministry is having trouble releasing the funds,” Ilyas said.

He further said that the Immigration Ministry had so far been unable to get a list of all the people who had made deposits at the Human Resources Ministry. Due to this, the Immigration Department was now issuing work permit visas only after a deposit (equal to cost of one-way ticket back to their native country) had been made.

“We will only issue the visa when the deposit has been made with us,” Ilyas said. “It is the task of the employer to get their previous deposit back from the Human Resource Ministry and deposit it with us. We are discussing the issue with the Human Resources Ministry and trying to get a list of those who had made deposits with them. However, so far we have not been successful.” -HNS

President calls for international support to consolidate democracy in Maldives

President Mohamed Nasheed called for the support of the international community to consolidate democracy in the Maldives. The President made the statement while speaking at the informal dinner hosted by the President and the First Lady for foreign dignitaries who visited the Maldives to participate in the Independence Day celebrations

President Nasheed said that this year’s Independence Day was being celebrated at a time when the country faced a number of challenges. He said the Maldives needed international support to overcome the challenges and consolidate democracy.

President Nasheed thanked the international community for their support to the Maldives, especially for their support in the democratisation process.

Furthermore, the President said that the Maldives still needed to continue with the democratisation process and establish institutions fit for a democratic society. He also said that despite the challenges, he was confident that the Maldives can successfully complete the work ahead.

In his remarks, President Nasheed reiterated his view that climate change posed an existential threat to the Maldives, and that if the international community could not save the Maldives today, it would not be possible to save the rest of the world in the future.

Last night’s dinner was also attended by Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, heads of statutory bodies, members of the People’s Majlis and the leaders of the political parties. -HNS