In this week’s radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed will speak on the importance of strengthening the judiciary. The President’s radio address will be broadcast on the Voice of Maldives at 7.15 tomorrow morning. In his radio address, the President will focus on the national awards that will be given on the republic day. In addition, the President will also speak on activities planned for national day celebrations and on enhancing and pooling government’s aid and on enhancing and pooling government’s aid and loan mobilization efforts.

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Mr Ibrahim Firushan for the membership of the Labour Tribunal. Mr Firushan took his oath of office before the President at a ceremony held this morning at the President’s Office. The oath was administered by Supreme Court judge Abdulla Areef. Speaking at the ceremony, the President noted that Labour Tribunal plays an important role in the economic and developmental sphere. Speaking in this regard, the President urged members of the Labour Tribunal to keep this consideration in mind while fulfilling their responsibilities.

President Mohamed Nasheed has, this afternoon, inaugurated Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort and Spa in South Miladhunmadulu atoll. Upon arrival at the resort, the President was greeted by Chairman of Sun Hotels, Mr Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and senior management of Hilton. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President expressed hope that the resort would contribute for greater advancement of the tourism sector. He also spoke on the importance of good management practices. Speaking in this regard, the President said good management practices were essential for sustainable tourism. Stressing that the world was now undergoing an economic slowdown, the President called on all stakeholders in tourism industry to sacrifice their personal differences and to peacefully resolve any grievances that they may have. President Nasheed also spoke on the importance of protecting the environment. He said that the resorts in the Maldives could play an important role in this endeavour. He further said democracy was an important adaptation measure to climate change.

President Mohamed Nasheed has sent messages of sympathy to President of France Mr Nicolas Sarkozy and President of Comoros Mr Ahmed Abdulla Sambi, following the crash of a Yemeni airliner in the Indian Ocean leaving many passengers onboard missing. Passengers and crew onboard the airliner were mainly French and Comoran citizens. In two separate messages, President Nasheed conveyed his profound sympathy to President Sarkozy and President Sambi, their governments and the people of the two countries. He also conveyed his sympathy to all the families whose loved ones are missing.

The reconstituted National Security Council has held its first meeting today at the President’s Office. President Nasheed who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces chaired the Council. According to Article 13 of the Armed Forces Act, there should be a National Security Council to provide advice and consultation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on all matters of national security. The members of the Council provided advice to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and discussed matters of national security.

The government has introduced new guidelines on carrying out developmental projects. The new guidelines were published in a directive issued by the President’s Office today. Under the new guidelines, National Planning Council is mandated with evaluating, prioritising, and approving development projects. The Council will be chaired by the President and the Department of National Planning will be the secretariat. The directive identifies all projects undertaken under government budget, foreign loans, foreign grant aids, technical assistance, public private partnerships, and companies with government shares, as development projects. The directive also includes guidelines on projects that require the coordination of different offices. According to the directive project concepts or proposals from government offices, atoll councils, island councils, city councils, NGOs, community based organizations, and other private organisations must be submitted to the National Planning Council through the Department of National Planning.

The cabinet has today decided to make sub-leasing of land from islands leased for resort operation, agriculture and other industrial work, possible. The cabinet made this decision at today’s cabinet meeting after deliberating on the matter. This arrangement would, inter alia, enable sub-leasing of bungalows and villas in resorts or plots of land from agricultural and other industrial islands. At today’s cabinet meeting, members also discussed on enhancing and pooling government’s aid and loan mobilization efforts. Underscoring the difficulties faced in coordinating the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in these areas, the cabinet discussed on strengthening the related functions of these Ministries. It was decided that Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed would oversee the government efforts in seeking foreign aid and loans. The members of the cabinet also discussed opening up the skipjack tuna industry for more investments. A ministerial sub-committee was appointed to review and investigate the possibility of investments in the industry. The members of the committee are Minister of Finance and Treasury, Ali Hashim; Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr Ibrahim Didi; Minster of Economic Development, Mr Mohamed Rasheed; Attorney General, Uz Husnu Suood; Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication, Mr Mahmood Razi; and, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Mohamed Shihab.

The Cabinet has today decided to confer awards of honour and awards of recognition for outstanding service to the public as a national award, starting from this year’s Republic Day. The Cabinet’s decision was based on the recommendations of the ministerial committee, after a review of the current national honours system. The ministerial committee to review the current national awards system was formed at the Cabinet meeting on 23 June 2009. It was also decided that conferees of the awards will be selected by a National Awards Committee appointed by the President. National awards for outstanding public service will be conferred at two levels – awards of honour and awards of recognition. National Awards Committee will decide the fields in which the awards will be conferred. The Cabinet also decided that the National Awards Committee would announce the fields, nomination procedures and the selection criteria of awards on 1st August.

President Mohamed Nasheed has welcomed British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for coming up with “a bold, yet realistic, ‘Roadmap to Copenhagen’. In a letter to the British premiere, President Nasheed thanked the Prime Minister for his positive role “in encouraging world leaders to turn general offers to help into concrete, costed assistance packages for poor, vulnerable nations”. In a speech in London on Friday, Prime Minister Brown called on international leaders to set aside $100 billion per year to be used by poorer nations to help them adapt to and mitigate against climate change. The British Prime Minister said that adaptation assistance afforded to vulnerable, developing countries should be new money, above and beyond existing international aid budgets. “Finance for adaptation should be to the poorest and most vulnerable countries,” Brown said during his speech. “The UK will contribute our fair share to climate financing separately from and in addition to our promises on ain and Millennium Development Goals.” In his letter, President Nasheed expressed appreciation to “the UK’s climate change efforts”, and said that the Maldives was prepared to extend its full commitment to work closely with the Prime Minster “in ensuring that the world seals a comprehensive deal in Copenhagen”.

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Ms Neeza Imad as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Malé Water and Sewerage Company Private Limited. The President also appointed Mr Mohamed Rasheed as a Director at the Board.