Author: Minivan News

PPM leader Gayoom announces membership drive

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) will undertake a membership drive, former president and leader of ruling party Maumoon Abdul Gayoom announced on Saturday.

At a meeting with the incumbent and newly elected PPM parliamentarians, Gayoom asserted that it was vital to further strengthen the party in order to ensure that it remains in government. He stated that the best way to do so is to increase the general membership.

He announced that the party has selected a ‘task force’ to undertake the work of increasing membership, and that work has already commenced in several atolls.

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Maldives joins global air traffic control association

The Maldives Air Traffic Controllers Association (MATCA) has joined the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association (IFATCA).

MATCA’s president Saddam Ahmed Saeed and secretary Yusuf Naeem took part in IFATCA’s 59th annual general meeting, which was held in Spain on Friday (May 9), local media has reported.

The vice president of MATCA Amhaar Mahraan Mohamed told Haveeru today that being a member of an international organisation will provide the MATCA updated on the latest developments in professional opinions and security in the field.

“The international federation usually gives advice on improvement techniques and keeps us updated on new developments in the field. One of the biggest objectives of the association is to provide professional opinions and strengthen air transport facilities. We will be granted all these opportunities now that we are also a member there,” he said.

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Hanifaru clean-up completed in Baa Atoll biosphere reserve

A clean up project took place yesterday (May 10) in the Maldvies Baa Atoll – the Maldives’ first certified UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The clean up of Hanifaru Island and Hanifu reef maintenance was carried out by a large group of volunteers from within the reserve – including local councillors, police officers, and resort workers.

Baa Atoll was officially launched as a Biosphere Reserve in June 2012 by former President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

Obtaining the status of UNESCO biosphere resulted in significnant funding for the atoll, with the UNDP handing over a cheque for US$250,000 as a contribution to the fund at the opening ceremony.

Tourist resorts in Baa Atoll, including Soneva Fushi, Coco Palm, Four Seasons, and Anantara and several other resorts have also pledged donations.

The Baa Atoll Conservation Fund will be used to finance projects to conserve the environment in the atoll as well to support livelihood activities.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) coordinates a world network of over 500 biospheres, which are designated as areas of conservation and innovative sustainable development.

In a recent statement from the Biosphere Reserve Office, the organisers extended their gratitude to everyone who helped with the clean up, assuring that together they can achieve the common goal of managing the reserve.

Participants in the cleanup of Hanifaru included those from the atoll council, Eydhafushi Island Council, Baa Atoll Education Centre, the Maldives Police Services, and Baa Atoll Hospital. The Hanifaru reef cleanup and maintenance was undertaken by Four Seasons, Seamarc, Reathbeach Resort, Dusit Thani, Seasplash, and Kihaad Maldives.

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Atoll Challenge paddles 165 kilometers, raises MVR 1 million for Thalassemia

A six-man kayak team has paddled 165 kilometers around Lhaviyani Atoll and raised over MVR 1 million (US$ 64, 840) for the Maldives Thalassemia Society.

The four-day “Atoll Challenge” visited all four inhabited islands and five resorts in the northern atoll to raise awareness on the common blood disorder and raise funds to buy 50 desferal pumps – a device that removes excess iron from Thalassemia patients’ blood.

The common genetic disorder causes severe anemia and patients require life long blood transfusions. The frequent transfusions cause iron-build up in the blood.

The Maldives has the highest incidence of Thalassemia in the world with 18 percent of the population carrying the recessive gene for the crippling disorder. One in every 120 births in the country is a Thalassemia patient.

Minister of Health Dr Mariyam Shakeela welcomed the kayakers back to Kuredhu Resort on May 8. Seaplane company Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) was the largest donator to the challenge at US$ 10,000.

The Thalassemia Society has identified insufficient screening services, shortage of desferal pumps, lack of treatment in Malé and the atolls, and lack of a standard protocol for treatment of patients as the biggest challenges patients face.

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China’s Sinohydro to build airport apron

China’s state-owned engineering and construction company, Synohydro, is to build a US$ 9 million parking apron at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).

The agreement was signed between the Maldives Airports Company (MACL) and Sinohydro on May 8.

MACL Managing Director ‘Bandhu’ Ibrahim Saleem said the new apron – to be built on the northern tip of the runway – will be 350 meters long and 75 meters wide. Four Boeing 777 airplanes can park on the apron.

The project is to be completed within 12 months.

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24 year old man arrested for sexually abusing and assaulting a minor

An individual has been taken into custody in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Hoadehdhoo Island for sexually exploiting and assaulting a 16 year old female minor.

Police reported that the individual, who was arrested on May 1, was a 24 year old male. He was taken in regarding a case first filed in 2013, which stated that he had sexually exploited the victim and assaulted her with a sharp object.

The individual has been remanded in custody for a period of 15 days from May 2 under the orders of the Thinadhoo Magistrate Court for investigation.

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Woman drowns in Gdh. Gahdhoo

74 year old Aishath Fauziyya, from Gaadeege, has drowned while swimming in Gdh. Gahdhoo this morning (May 8).

Police reported that at 8:00 this morning, they received information about the incident and arrived on the scene.

They discovered that the woman had been swimming for exercise with several others on the south side of the island when a strong current carried her away.

The attending doctor stated that the woman had died before she reached the hospital, police confirmed.

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Police complete first response to terrorism incidents training

The Maldives Police Services has completed a three-day training on first responses to terrorism this morning.

The programme held in partnership with the US State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security trained 71 police officers.

A Sri Lankan counter-terrorism analyst told Indian Media last week that Maldives is a target of regional terrorists.

Rohan Gunaratna who heads the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University said a Sri Lankan national arrested in Chennai on suspicion on terrorist activities had been planning to launch attacks on locations in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India.

Meanwhile, The Maldives government has said funds are being raised in the country to support terrorism abroad, a recent US State Department country report on terrorism said.

The report also noted growing concern since 2010 “about the activities of a small number of local violent extremists involved with transnational terrorist groups.”

“There has been particular concern that young Maldivians, including those within the penal system, may be at risk of becoming radicalized and joining violent Islamist extremist groups. Links have been made between Maldivians and violent extremists throughout the world,” the report stated.

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Boskalis begins Thulusdhoo reclamation

Netherland’s Boskalis International has begun a 33-hectare reclamation project on Thulusdhoo Island in Kaafu Atoll.

The MVR 570 million (US$ 37 million) four-island reclamation project has garnered controversy with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stating that environmental regulations were violated in the recent dredging on Baa Atoll Eydhafushi Island.

Excavators used a method called the rainbow technique which propels sand and seawater through the air in an arc covering houses on the shoreline in fine sand and seawater.

In March, the EPA also halted dredging on Dhaalu Atoll Meedhoo for failure to build a barrier to contain excess dredge soil from spilling into the ocean.

In addition to Thulusdhoo, Eydhafushi, and Meedho, Boskalis will also be reclaiming land in Dhaalu Atoll Kudahuvadhoo Island.

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