Ten flats awarded in first phase of Veshi Fahi Male’ housing project

President Mohamed Nasheed presented documents of guarantee yesterday to ten recipients of flats in Hulhumale’ under the first phase of the “Veshi Fahi” Male’ de-congestion programme.

The documents were presented at a ceremony to open the new “Veshi Fahi” Male’ office to applicants under category A of the programme in exchange for small plots in the capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Male’ City Councillor “Sarangu” Adam Manik, director of the Veshi Fahi programme, explained that the project was launched on November 10, 2010 to ease congestion in the capital and develop the Greater Male’ Region, composed of Hulhumale’, Vili-Male’, Thilafushi industrial island and Gulhifalhu.

“During the 30 years of the previous government, 682 plots [were awarded] in Male’ and Viligili and 1,060 flats were built in Male’ and Hulhumale’,” he said. “In the 30 months of the MDP [Maldivian Democratic Party] government, 500 plots were chosen from Hulhumale’ and the practical work of awarding 250 of those flat has begun today.”

Construction has meanwhile begun on 1,566 flats, Manik continued, including 1,000 housing units and 178 ‘Coral Ville’ flats in Hulhumale’ as well as 198 flats in Gaakoshi, 50 flats in Odeon and 90 flats in the old Arabiyya School site.

“For all these flats, construction is currently underway,” he said, inviting skeptics to “see for yourself.”

Veshi Fahi Male' de-congestion programmeIn his remarks at the ceremony, President Nasheed explained that Category A involves clearing small plots in Male’ “for planting trees or [to use] as a parking area or to clear the space for playing chess, cards or putting up a basket hoop or a dart board or to keep a rubbish bin.”

Nasheed observed that “like most new ideas we proposed” not many people supported the programme or believed it could be successful.

As concentration of one-third of the country’s population in Male’ has given rise to severe congestion and a host of social problems, Nasheed said that it was “absolutely necessary to find some way for the people of Male’.”

Approximately 125,000 people are believed to reside in about 16,000 households in Male’; the total number of households in the Maldives is estimated to be 46,000.

“That is a very small number considering the number of people who live in Male’,” he said. “Therefore we need to build more houses. We believe that the household is the main engine of development.”

Providing affordable housing was one of five key campaign pledges in the ruling party’s manifesto.

Nasheed meanwhile said that residents of Male’ who had mistakenly applied under Category A although they did not possess small plots for exchange would be carried over to the second category when applications are processed.

He added that winners of the 250 plots in Hulhumale’ designated for Category A applicants would also receive a housing loan from the Housing Development Corporation.

President Nasheed said that he expected construction of 500 flats in Male’ to completed within a year.

The government was presently conducting assessments and feasibility studies to connect the islands of Thilafushi, Gulhifalhu, Vilimale’, Male’ and Hulhumale’, Nasheed revealed.

“As you know, in a multi-party political system, there will be people who will try to argue the other side and show that it cannot be done,” he said.

“That is the way it should be. That is how we can build a good democracy. However [for the opposition to] muddle laws and attempt inside the People’s Majlis to obstruct these projects would be regrettable. I hope the people of the Maldives, and especially the people of Male’, will encourage their MPs to help us do this.”

Using a phrase coined by the opposition to mock his repeated pledges to build flats, Nasheed concluded his remarks by saying, “I am flat Dhonbe (elder brother).”

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Construction stalls on new Arabiyya School building

The Education Ministry has cancelled a Rf29 million (US$1.8 million) contract with Mala Horizon for construction of the new Arabiya School building in Male’.

The private construction company had ceased work on the site claiming financial losses resulting from the government’s decision to float the exchange rate.

Deputy Minister Dr Ahmed Nazeer told local media this week that the government could not accept the changes to the contract proposed by Mala Horizons, which would have involved compensating the company for losses incurred for importing material.

The government has now opened a second bidding process and invited interested parties to apply for the project.

Dr Nazeer meanwhile said today that the education ministry hoped construction of the school could be complete by the middle of next year’s first term.

The old Arabiyya School was shut down by the ministry in March, 2010 after cracks in the building caused a wall to collapse.

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National service medals conferred to 14 individuals

National Exemplary Service medals and National Service Medals were conferred upon 14 individuals by President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday at a special ceremony to mark the country’s 46th Independence Day.

Among eight individuals awarded the National Exemplary Service [Insignia of the Honourable Nishan Izzudheen] were Special Envoy of the President Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, “Karankaa” Ibrahim Rasheed, Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi, Moomina Haleem, Mohamed Zuhair,  Naseema Mohamed, Mohamed Nooradheen and Mohamed Zahir Naseer.

The National Service Medals were meanwhile conferred to Dr. Abdulla Abdul Hakeem, Habeeba Hussain Habeeb, Ahmed Shafeeq, Maroshi Hussain Kaleyfaanu, Mohamed Umar Manik and “Sikkage” Mohamed Naseem.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients at the ceremony, Ibrahim Rasheed made note of the traditional decorations reminiscent of the ceremonies of kings and observed that “the Republic of the Maldives will never go back to a Sultanate again.”

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Traffic police officer foils mugging attempt

A traffic police officer foiled a mugging attempt yesterday when he came across the muggers threatening to rob a man at knife point.

According to police, the unarmed traffic officer confronted the muggers while they had a knife to the victim’s throat. The incident occurred in the morning in an alley near Sultan Park.

The muggers fled on their motorbike but the traffic officer gave chase on his vehicle and hit them from behind. The muggers escaped but left their motorbike behind.

The traffic officer was meanwhile commended by Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh and other senior officers for his bravery.

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Official SAARC summit website launched

The official website of the upcoming 17th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit was launched this week by Special Envoy of the President Ibrahim Hussein Zaki.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at the Foreign Ministry, Zaki, who was the first Maldivian secretary-general of SAARC, said that the website would be an important tool for free flow of information from organisers to delegates and participants.

As well as in-depth information about the summit, the website features information about Addu City and interactive services for delegates and the media.

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Two “narco-terrorist” suspects arrested in Maldives

Two men accused of “narco-terrorism” conspiracies to support Hezbollah and the Taliban were arrested in the Maldives by “the long arm of US law enforcement”, reports AFP.

The two suspects along with another two arrested in Bucharest were being brought before a federal judge in New York, according to a statement by US Attorney Preet Bharara.

“According to the indictment undercover US narcotics agents pretending to represent Hezbollah agreed to purchase hundreds of kilograms of heroin,” AFP reports.

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Ministers’ cars spray painted

State-owned cars of several cabinet ministers were spray painted by unknown vandalists yesterday.

According to MNBC One, the drivers said that the attacks took place in the morning when they went to pick up the ministers for yesterday’s Independence Day ceremony at Dharubaaruge (convention centre).

Spray was painted over number plates while scrawls were made over the car’s body. Police are reportedly investigating the incident but have not arrested any suspects so far.

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Maldives ranks second in South Asia in ‘ease of business’ index

Maldives is the second easiest country in which to do business in South Asia, according to the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index for 2011, and 85th worldwide, an increase of 11 places.

The Maldives ranked poorly for getting credit (152), trading across borders (138), registering of property (147) and closing a business (125). It came middle of the field for protecting investors (74) and enforcing contracts (92). Without any corporate tax structure the country came first, although such bills are currently before the parliament.

Globally, Singapore came first followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand.

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President hosts reception to mark Independence Day

President Mohamed Nasheed and First Lady Madam Laila Ali hosted an official reception at Muleeaage last night to mark Maldives Independence Day.

Attendees included cabinet ministers, members of the parliament, state ministers, foreign dignitaries and heads of various independent agencies, the President’s Office stated.

Meanwhile, countries from around the world including Pakistan and Abu Dhabi have sent the Maldives congratulatory messages on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, the President and First Lady watched a parade by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), route march by school bands and cultural items at the Republic square.

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