Shainee: Maldivian Supreme Court is regionally exceptional

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. Mohamed Shainee has voiced out in defense of the Bench of Maldivian Supreme Court, commenting that it was concurred by many that the Bench was compiled of regionally exceptionally capable and experienced judges.

In an interview on Television Maldives’ “Rajje Miadhu” show on Saturday night, Minister Shainee said that the country faced a number of critical issues in 2013, but that it was Supreme Court’s work in performing its duties and providing solutions which prevented the country from being plunged into a legal vacuum.

Shainee said that many people he met commented on issues in the Maldivian judiciary system, and pressed on the need for more educated individuals to work in the system. But that they all concurred the Bench of Maldivian Supreme Court was compiled of exceptionally capable and experienced judges, region-wide.

“They also concur… Looking at Bench of Maldivian Supreme Court… They agree its regionally exceptional in terms of capability, training and experience,” he said.

Shainee said that though there may not be degree-standard judges working in the lower courts, judges working in the High Court and Supreme Court were capable and always rose up to the occasion in providing solutions to the Maldivian people.

He said there were, however, some reforms even the government wanted to make to the judiciary system.

“So it’s not altogether their issue. Performance has fallen short of what we want as well,” said Shainee.

Shainee said that a presidential election was held less than one month into the implementation of the new Constitution in 2008, and that those who came to power failed to honor the responsibilities entrusted to them by the Constitution.

“[They were entrusted] to create multiple laws and independent institutions. The administration at the time gave no care to any of this. President Nasheed did none of this during the three years, and then the opposition couldn’t do much to create turmoil in the country within the next two years,” said Shainee.

He said that President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration had done a lot of work to resolve issues facing the country after it came to power.