Two Youth ministry coordinators sacked

Two coordinators at the Ministry of Youth and Sports have been sacked.

Executive Consultant for the National Center for the Arts (NCA) Mohamed ‘Thema’ Shiyam and Executive Coordinator Abdulla Muaz were fired last week.

Confirming his dismissal, Shiyam said: “President Abdulla Yameen asked me to fill in this symbolic position temporarily, without pay. I was fired yesterday as part of the changes that are being brought to the NCA’s structure.”

Shiyam is a board member at the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL). He continues to hold the position.

The office of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) is located at Shiyam’s residence.

Muaz, an actor and film director, confirmed his dismissal, but declined to comment further. His wife Aishath Shayan sits on the state broadcaster Public Service Media’s (PSM) board.

The youth ministry was not responding to calls at the time of going to press.

There are some 11 coordinators, all political appointees, at the youth ministry, according to local media.

In September, President Yameen demoted three political appointees; State minister of fisheries and agriculture Zaha Waheed was demoted to the position of executive coordinator at the ministry. Zaha also serves as the secretary general of PPM. Gayoom is the PPM’s leader.

State minister of law and gender Dr Hala Hameed was transferred to the foreign ministry as an additional secretary at the deputy minister level. Hala had also previously served as the vice president of the Police Integrity Commission.

Deputy minister for law and gender Aminath Nadira was meanwhile demoted to the position of executive coordinator at the ministry.