Safa: Commission unaware of grievances when petition submitted

Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom)’s president Safa Shafeeg, on Wednesday, said grievances by the Commission’s staff had not been shared with its members before a petition was filed with the Parliament accusing Commission’s members and president of preventing them from discharging their duties.

The petition was submitted by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo) on Sunday with the signatures of 18 BroadCom staff.

Notably, the Commission’s Secretary General Mariyam Zeeniya was suspended for three days on Tuesday for failure to cooperate in implementing the Commission’s decisions.

Meanwhile, some BroadCom staff halted their work and walked out in protest on Wednesday.

Although BroadCom, an independent institution funded by the state budget, has faced significant operational disruptions, Safa stated that she and the other Commission members maintain close collaboration with the staff. She emphasized that they have consistently addressed staff concerns, adding that the issues outlined in the petition were never formally brought to the attention of the Commission members.

“The door to my room is not closed. Any staff can come in and talk, or present their ideas. While there are such severe allegations in the petition, they have never been brought to our attention,” she added.

Safa denied that the Commission’s Secretary General was suspended in connection with the petition, adding she was suspended a few days after she was verbally cautioned over a disciplinary issue for failing to cooperate with implementing the Commission’s decisions.

The petition submitted to the Parliament accuses the president and some other commission members of being emotionally abusive towards the commission’s secretary general and staff members and preventing them from executing their duties.

Meanwhile, Zeeniya was allegedly suspended after she was investigated for complaints including the allegation that she was deliberately emotionally abusive towards a commission’s staff member, and was openly disrespectful towards the commission’s president, Safa.