The President appoints a Minister of State for Home Affairs, President of Male' Municipality and Deputy State Minister of Home Affairs

14th Dec: President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Mr. Mohamed Naseer as the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Adam Maniku as the President of Male' Municipality and Mr. Ali Mohamed as Deputy Minister of State for Home Affairs. The announcements were made at the President's Office, today.
Speaking after the announcements, the President urged the new President of Male' Municipality to work to ensure that Male' was a clean city, and to provide a better living environment for the residents in Male'.
The President asked the newly appointed State Minister and Deputy State Minister for Home Affairs to oversee the development projects in Addu atoll and Fuvahmulah. He further urged them to work to provide a better quality of life for the people of Addu atoll and Fuvahmulah.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, Press Secretary at the President's Office, Mr. Mohamed Zuhair, and Cabinet Secretary at the President's Office, Mr. Abdullah Saeed were present at today's ceremony.
Former President of Male' Municipality, Mr. Abdullah Saleem, had resigned earlier today.

The Office of the Vice President informs the people of Maduvvaree that finding a solution to beach erosion is a top priority

15th Dec: Representatives from the Office of the Vice President have informed Maduvvaree people that finding a solution to the island's beach erosion problem was a top priority of the Government, and that the Government would work very hard to that end.
Representatives from the Office of the Vice President made the remarks at a meeting that took place, today, at the President's Office after some members of the community came to the President's Office to voice their concerns regarding their island's beach erosion.

The President appoints two Deputy Ministers of Health and Family
15th Dec: President Nasheed has appointed Mr. Farooq Mohamed Hassan and Mr. Ahmed Fayaz Hassan as Deputy Ministers of Health and Family.

The President urges Senior Government Officials to foster better relations with the public

16th Dec: President Mohamed Nasheed has urged senior Government officials to foster better relations with the members of the public. The President made this statement at a meeting held with the senior officials of the President's Office, at his Office, today.
At the meeting, the President called on all senior Government officials to meet with the members of the public as often as possible, listen to and address their concerns and further improve the relations between the public and the Government.
In this regard, the President requested senior Government Officials to provide their contact details and times they could be reached by the members of the public via telephone, and to arrange appointments for meetings with the public.
The President added he will officially direct all Government Offices to do so.

The government decides to bring National Disaster Management Centre under the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment

17th Dec: The Government has decided to bring the National Disaster Management Centre under the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment. The Government took the decision following a recommendation by the Cabinet, after they deliberated on the matter at a Cabinet meeting held at the President's Office, today.

The President says that the Government will continue with the decentralisation process

17th Dec: President Nasheed has said that the Government would continue its effort towards decentralisation by regionalising Government administrative services. The President made this statement while speaking at a press conference held today at the President's Office.
Speaking on the topic, the President noted that the Attorney General had advised that there was no legal barrier in regionalising Government administrative functions, except those of the Ministry of Defence and National Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even before decentralisation legislation is passed.
As part of his effort in regionalising administrative functions of the Government, President Nasheed had recently visited five atolls to hold discussions with the members of those atolls. Furthermore, State Ministers and their Deputies have already been appointed for the northern and southern regions, and they have been tasked with overseeing development efforts in the regions.
The President informed that employees from twelve Government Ministries would be stationed in the regional offices to assist the State Ministers' secretariats. He added that the employees would also coordinate with their respective Ministries.

The President appoints a Deputy Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports

17th Dec: President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Mr. Mohamed Fayaz as the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mr. Hussain Ismail as the Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Youth and Sports.

The President establishes Waste Management Corporation Limited and Thilafushi Corporation Limited
17th Dec: President Mohamed Nasheed has today set up Waste Management Corporation Limited and Thilafushi Corporation Limited, both of which are established as government companies with hundred percent government shares.
The main objective of Waste Management Corporation Limited will be to manage and strengthen the waste management system of the country. Thilafushi Corporation Limited is tasked with managing and developing Thilafushi.
Both companies, inter alia, would have their own corporate personality, memorandums and articles of association, stamps, and powers to sue and be sued under their own names.
The Government has decided to look for capable and experienced parties from overseas to assist the Government in developing and strengthening the companies.

The President appoints eight councillors

18th Dec: President Nasheed has today appointed six atoll councillors and two island councillors.
The newly appointed councillors are:
1. Mr. Mohamed Faheem as the councillor for South Miladhunmadulu Atoll
2. Mr. Ibrahim Rasheed as the councillor for North Maalhosmadulu Atoll
3. Mr. Yoosuf Moosa as the councillor for South Maalhosmadulu Atoll
4. Mr. Mohamed Mahir as the councillor for Fadhippolhu Atoll
5. Mr. Mohamed Adil as the councillor for Mulaku Atoll
6. Mr. Abdul Wahhab Abdulla for Hadhdhummathee Atoll
7. Mr. Adam Waheed as the councillor for Kulhudhuffushi of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll
8. Mr. Abdul Latheef Ahmed as the councillor for Dhiggaru of Mulaku Atoll
The councillors were appointed under Government's effort to speed up the process of regionalising the administration of Atolls.

The President proposes five names to the Police Integrity Commission

18th Dec: In accordance with Article 20 of Act 5/2008 (Police Act), President Mohamed Nasheed has proposed five names for the Police Integrity Commission to the People's Majlis.
The five members proposed by the President are as follows:
- Dr. Hala Hameed
- Mr. Mohamed Yoosuf
- Uz. Ahmed Aslam
- Mr. Ali Nadheem
- Ms Shahindha Ismail
Out of the five names that were proposed, Uz. Ahmed Aslan, Mr. Ali Nadheem and Ms. Shahindha Ismail were selected from among those who had applied for membership.

President urges Government Offices to cooperate with the newly established Anti-Corruption Commission

18th Dec: President Nasheed has urged all government offices to take example from the President's Office in fully cooperating with the newly constituted Anti-Corruption Commission in their inquiries and investigations. The President made this remark following the start of the Commission's investigation of various documents of the President's Office.
The President's Office extended its support to the Commission by fully complying with all requests of the Commission. The President's Office disclosed all its documents and files that the Commission had asked for.
Officials of the President's Office assured that, contrary to the practice in the past, the Commission would not face any obstruction from the President's Office and other Government offices, in carrying out their functions.
The two officials - an assistant director and an accounts officer - who investigated the President's Office were from a seven -member team set up by the President of the Commission, Mr Ali Rasheed Umar.
The Commission's President, in a letter, requested from the President's Office to disclose several documents such as the accounts; to allow photocopying of the requested documents; and, to allow the investigation team to obtain documents that they may need for investigation.
In its letter, the Commission did not disclose any specific allegation for the inspections.
At today's inspection, however, the Commission's team specifically sought for documents regarding the Government's proposed joint venture project for Male' International Airport.
The government opened the joint venture project for bidding on 27 November 2008. The Government believes this project to develop and modernise Male' International Airport will enhance the international image of the country.

Police Chief meets Indian Defense Advisor

19th Dec: Maldives Police Services has revealed that the Indian Defense Advisor residing in Sri Lanka, Captain Pradeep Singh has paid a visit to the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Faseeh. The meeting took place Tuesday at the Commissioner's Office at Police Headquarters.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz and Inspector Abdul Mannan Yoosuf also participated in this meeting.

The meeting was aimed to introduce the newly appointed Commissioner, and discussed strengthening the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

In the meeting the parties discussed the areas where officers of the Maldives Police Service require further training.

During meeting, the Indian Defense Advisor highlighted training programs which exist in areas such as Marine Police and Special Operations Command, Maldives Police Services said.

Resort lease extension, a stimulus package to industry: Sawad

19th Dec: The government proposal to extend the lease of tourist resorts to maximum 50 years period is a stimulus package provided to the tourism industry in the wake of the present global economic crisis, said Tourism and Culture minister Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawad.

Sawad was speaking to the People's Majilis at its meeting held on Thursday, when the new bill proposed by the government to extend the lease period of tourist resorts was opened for debate.

The minister, said tourism industry which accounted to a major share of the governments foreign exchange earning and economy, needs more support and incentives due to the worsening economic situation, and more favorable investment opportunities has to be lured to encourage and boost the tourism sector .

The minister said the law will enable the government to make regulations which will govern the conditions and criteria on which lease of resorts can be extended up to 50 years.

He also said the proposal will help the government raise the much needed finance to bridge the budget deficit. The bill is expected to generate Rf 1.2 billion for the 13 billion budget proposed for 2009.

Criticising and protesting do not amount to rebelling against the government: says the President

20th Dec: President Nasheed has said that criticising and protesting against the government do not amount to rebelling agaisnt it. The President made this statement while speaking at the special meeting on the occasion of Human Rights Day. The meeting was held at Muhibbudeen School of Addu Atoll Hithadhoo.
Speaking at the meeting the President said that several people from Addu had been playing an important role in creating human rights awareness and noted the names of Mr. Sikka Mohamed Naseem and Uz. Husnu Sood.
The President highlighted the fact that instances of inhumane punishment in the Maldives have decreased and thanked the Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force.
Stressing that demonstrations and protests can be held without committing unlawful acts, President Nasheed called on NGO's to create greater awareness among the people about democratic and peaceful ways of protesting.
Welcome to the President and a brief introduction of the meeting and about human rights was given by the President of Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Mr. Ahmed Saleem.
The 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 5th anniversary of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and the Human Rights Day were commemorated at the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador for Human Rights, Mr. Mohamed Latheef; Minister of State for Home Affairs in charge for the southern region, Mr. Mohamed Naseer; Addu Aloll Member, Mr. Mohamed Aslam; Fuvahmulaku Member, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Didi; Economic Advisor to the President, Mr. Ali Shiyam; Press Secretary at the President's Office, Mr. Mohamed Zuhair; and Executive Services Secretary at the President's Office, Mr. Mohamed Ziyad.