Presidnet's nominees for Information Commissioner forwarded to committee

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has forwarded four names to parliament for the post of Information Commissioner, including RaajjeTV’s former Chief Operating Officer Hussain Fiyaz Moosa.

Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed announced the president's nominees for the post at Monday’s parliament sitting.

The names were sent to the committee on independent institutions, for further review.

The four names forwarded for Information Commissioner by the president are; Fiyaz, Ahmed Aahid Rasheed, Fathmath Saushan and Ahmed Fayaz.

While applications for the post were open from July 10-22, nine individuals had submitted forms; the president is required to send at least three names to parliament.

Those applying for the Information Commissioner must meet the following requirements, as per Article 45 of the Right to Information Act;

(a)Must have attained the age of 35 years;

(b)Must not be convicted of an offence punishable under Islamic Shari’ah or guilty of offence of fraud or bribery as per Shari’ah;

(c)Must not be a person appointed to hold a political position under the Constitution of any law of the Republic of Maldives;

(d)Must not be a member of a political party nor engaged in the activities of a political party;

(e)Must have a first degree, and possess at least 7 (seven) years of work experience.

(f)Must not be employed in any other employment other than the post saved as Information Commissioner.

While the term of office of the Information Commissioner is “one term of five years from the date of appointment,” Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakr’s term ended on July 22.