Home Minister to be given 15 minutes to respond to no-confidence debate

The Parliament General Committee has decided today, to give Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed 15 minutes to respond in the debate on the no-confidence motion submitted against him to Parliament.

The Committee decided to hold a two-hour debate on the issue. Dr Jameel can choose to divide the 15 minutes time into three parts – he can speak before the debate, answer questions during the debate, and address the Parliament after the debate before the vote is taken.

This was proposed by Baarah MP Mohamed Shifaz, and supported by Hithadhoo-medhu MP Mohamed Rasheed.

Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed suggested allowing five minutes to every political party during the debate on the no-confidence motion. However this was not approved by the Committee majority.

The no-confidence vote against the Home Minister is on the Parliament agenda for Tuesday next week.

The motion was submitted with the signatures of 26 MPs of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Article 101(c) of the Constitution stipulates that a no-confidence motion will be passed if it is voted in favour by 39 out of 77 MPs.

MDP’s reasons for filing the no-confidence motion are that Dr Jameel has been negligent in carrying out his responsibilities to ensure safe streets for the people of Male’, and that he has failed to probe the activities of the Police on 8 February 2012