Author: Minivan News

Center for Asia Pacific Aviation profile on Mega Maldives

The Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has said that Mega Maldives Airlines is planning a rapid fleet and network expansion by seeking potential joint venture partnerships in other markets.

In a company profile for the airline, CAPA said that the first phase of the expansion plan would involve the addition of four 757s and one 767 to the fleet, while the second phase would involve launching flights to Australia and Europe.

Mega Maldives has pursued modest expansion since launching in early 2011 and currently operates three scheduled routes from Malé with a fleet of two 767s and one 757.

“Tourist arrivals from China including Hong Kong have increased more than five-fold over the last four years from about 60,000 in 2009 to 332,000 in 2013, according to Maldives Ministry of Tourism data. China is now by far the largest and fastest growing source market for tourists to the Maldives, accounting for 30% of all arrivals in 2013,’’ said the CAPA profile.

In Southeast Asia Mega Maldives has been considering starting flights to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

“Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta are not nearly large enough to support MEGA on a purely local basis. Malaysia accounted for about 11,000 visitor arrivals in the Maldives in 2013,’’ CAPA stated.

However, CAPA reported that the airline was confident that Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to Malé would be viable routes with connections to Saudi Arabia because of strong demand for religious travel.

If Mega Maldives launches flights from Kuala Lampur or Jakarta to Jeddah it would become the first transit market and turn Male’ in to a potential transit hub from Asia to the Middle East, Africa, and other Indian Ocean islands, read the profile.

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Health advocate and public figure Dr Razee passes away

Famous medical doctor and public figure Dr Ahmed Razee passed away last night while being treated in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital’ following a heart attack at 59 years.

Dr Razee was a popular figure throughout the Maldives, mainly due to his active engagement in health advocacy through television, radio, and later through social media.

In his final Facebook status – from the ICU at IGMH – Dr Razee said that years of of diabetes and smoking had caught up with him and requested everyone to pray for his recovery.

His funeral prayer was held today at the Islamic Center after Asr Prayers and was attended by a large number of people. Dr Razee is survived by nine children from three marriages.

In his more than three decades of medical service since 1984, Dr Razee served in Central Hospital as a health officer, then in IGMH as a senior consultant and later as head of operations.

Dr Razee also served in the government as a medical director at the Ministry of Health and as the director in the Department of Medical Service. He also served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

He retired as a civil servant in 2010 but to serve the medical profession, consulting at private clinics and hospitals. Dr Razee described himself as a self-employed “physician with special interest in diabetes and metabolic syndrome”.

A diabetic himself, Dr Razee was most vocal on diabetes awareness, but also concentrated on tuberculosis, healthy lifestyles and sexual health – still a taboo subject in the country.

He also served as chair of the Maldives Diabetics Association and played an important role in establishing a diabetic clinic at IGMH.

Dr Razee was also a health reform advocate who was vocal in raising issues with the health system through conventional and social media.

He was a familiar face for most Maldivians and a social person who mingled with the public and enjoyed leisure activities like fishing and playing music.

His engagement with the public through social media was not limited to health advocacy and medical guidance, often discussing religion, politics, and personal experiences.

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Maldives and Chinese governments sign agricultural MoU

The governments of the Maldives and China have today signed an agreement on agricultural and research project cooperation.

“Under the terms of the Agreement the Government of China shall extend to the Government of Maldives, a grant aid of One Million Yuan [MVR2.5million]. The Grant aid will be utilized to Agriculture Sector of Maldives,” read a press release from the Maldives’ Foreign Ministry.

Present at the signing ceremony today was Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon alongside Chinese ambassador Wang Fukang, with senior officials from the fisheries and foreign ministries also present.

Earlier this week, the Chinese ambassador also took part in a ceremony inaugurating a bilateral training seminar involving Chinese and Maldivian police officers, scheduled to take place in Shanghai this month.

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Nestlé Sri Lanka and Education Ministry sign MoU

Nestlé Lanka and the education ministry have signed a MoU to empower young talent development in the Maldives.

According to online newspaper Lanka Business Times, the MoU was signed to host an annual award ceremony dubbed ‘Milo Schools Award Night’ which will recognise and award exceptional students.

Lanka Business Times quoted Dr Aishath Shiham as saying that

“Milo’s presence in the Maldives has had significant impact on the local community over the years, winning the hearts of the people via an intimate and consistent engagement,” State Minister of Education Dr Aishath Shiham was quoted as saying.

“We hope that this partnership with Nestlé will help us highlight young Maldivian talent whilst creating a platform for these skilled individuals to gain well deserved recognition both nationally and beyond.”

Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka Ganesan Ampalavanar said that their involvement and support ensures the promotion of attributes like leadership, discipline, and team spirit amongst youth and also plays a pivotal role in providing a platform for both identifying and developing talent to represent the island on a global scale.

He said he was pleased and honored to strengthen the ongoing relationship with the Maldives by partnering with the education ministry to host and conduct the annual awards from 2014 – 2018.

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MPs-elect to be sworn in on May 28

The 85 MPs-elect for the 18th People’s Majlis will be sworn on Wednesday, May 28.

According to the parliament secretariat, a speaker and deputy speaker will be elected through secret ballot following the swearing-in ceremony.

Article 79(a) of the constitution states, “The People’s Majlis shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting, and shall then stand dissolved. The first sitting of the newly elected People’s Majlis shall be held immediately after the dissolution of the previous People’s Majlis.”

Article 81 states, “A person elected as a member of the People’s Majlis shall assume membership in the People’s Majlis upon taking and subscribing, before the Chief Justice or his designate, the oath of office of members of the People’s Majlis set out in schedule 1 of this constitution.”

It is also stated in the constitution that the Majlis shall elect a speaker and deputy speaker during its first sitting. Both the Progressive Party of Maldives and Gasim Ibrahim of the Jumhooree Party have recently expressed an interest in the speaker’s position.

“Until such time as a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker is elected the People’s Majlis shall be presided over by the consecutively longest serving member from among those present,” reads the constitution.

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State Trading Organisation aims to produce 1000 jobs in 3 years

The Managing Director of the State Trading Organization (STO) Adam Azim has said that the company will produce 1000 jobs within the next 3 years.

Adam Azim said that the company is looking to establish a capable work force across the Maldives, reported local media Sun Online.

“A thousand jobs will be produced with the health sector pharmacies and hypermarkets that we plan to establish,” he added.

The company has plans to invest in the development of its staff with training and education opportunities for the next four years, Azim told Sun.

“We will invest in education, regardless of the cost,” Azim said.

The state-owned STO is the country’s primary wholesaler, responsible for bringing in the vast majority of basic foodstuffs, as well as investing in oil and the tourism industry.

The company was announced bankrupt by President Yameen in November 2013, following which the companylaunched a campaign to cut operational costs by MVR50 million in 2014 (US$ 3,242,542).

More recently, in March 2014, the STO told local media that a five-star hotel it is building in Hulhumalé will be fully completed by January 2015.

STO has also announced on April 6 2014 that they will be placing three additional oil storage tanks in Kafu Fuadhoo, in a bid to increase the oil capacity.

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Jumhooree Party fined for fraudulent membership applications

For the second time this month Elections Commission has fined Jumhooree Party (JP) over fraudulent membership applications.

According to the commission, the JP used one person’s finger print on multiple party application forms – the fifth time the party has been caught doing this.

The JP have now been asked to pay a fine of MVR9,000 as per Article 48 (a) of the Political Parties Act.

The party was fined with MVR8,000 earlier this month for the same reason.

Along with the JP, the Progressive Party of Maldives was also fined MVR7,000 for submitting party application in contravention of the Political Parties Act for a third time.

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High Court throws out EC appeal against new member Habeeb

The High Court has thrown out an appeal by the Elections Commission (EC) against its newly appointed commission member Ismail Habeeb.

Habeeb was made redundant in January 2013 before contesting his dismissal at the Labor tribunal. The tribunal ordered his reinstatement in August 2013, by which time he had been appointed to the Civil Court as its senior administrator.

The EC initially demoted Habeeb on corruption allegations in 2012 claiming he had not followed due procedures in appointing an EC staff and in awarding a scholarship to another staff. But the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cleared Habeeb of the charges.

The EC decided to appeal the tribunal’s decision at the High Court, but the commission’s lawyers failed to attend the hearing scheduled for Monday.

In the meantime, Habeeb was appointed by the People’s Majlis to the EC on March 12 to replace former member ‘Ogaru’ Ibrahim Waheed who had resigned in October 2013 citing health issues.

Habeeb’s confirmation to the EC followed the Supreme Court’s controversial removal of the commission’s President Fuwad Thowfeek and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz.

The dismissals left the EC without the three members required for a quorum to hold meetings and approve decisions, raising doubts over the commission’s ability to prepare for and conduct parliamentary elections as scheduled on March 22.

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Majlis to consider PG appointment at sitting on Monday

The Majlis has scheduled the sixth sitting of its current session for Monday April 14, when it will discuss reports on the appointment of new members to various institutions, including the post of prosecutor general (PG).

Earlier this month the independent commission’s oversight committee rejected President Abdulla Yameen’s nomination to the PG’s role, while the appointment of Dr Azeema Adam for the post of Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority was approved.

A new member of the Police Integrity Commission was approved during the same meeting and will also be discussed on Monday.

The committee of the whole house will also review amendments to the Airport Service Charge Act and the Act on Export and Import.

The house has not convened since April 2, with local media last week reporting that nothing had been scheduled on the agenda.

Secretary-general Ahmed Mohamed told Haveeru that the hiatus allowed committees to continue their work, with Speaker of the House Abdulla Shahid urging MP’s to hasten their efforts as the 17th Majlis draws to a close.

The final sitting of the current Majlis will take place later this month before the swearing in of the 18th Majlis next month.

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