The State Trading Organisation (STO) has today announced an immediate reduction in the retail prices of diesel and petrol “as a result of favourable change in cost of most recent shipments.”
The new retail prices of diesel and petrol per litre are MVR16.23 and MVR16.42, respectively.
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(0)PhD programs in law and pedagogy are to be launched by the Maldives National University (MNU) tomorrow.
Chancellor of MNU Fayyaz Ali Manik said the PhD positions will only be available for two or three students in the beginning.
He added that two Maldivian supervisors are available to lead the PhD programs.
The university currently offers a few degree courses, while other colleges in Male’ offer degree and masters course.
Programs in political science are planned to be introduced by the university next year.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Audit Office’s state budget has been increased by MVR 14 million, following approval by Parliament’s Public Finance Committee.
This year the Audit Office was approved a budget of MVR 57.8 million by the committee, as opposed to last year’s budget of MVR 44.5 million.
According to a member of the committee, the budget of MVR 57.8 million, as proposed by the Audit Office, was passed after thorough assessment by the Sub-Committee, and due to the importance of the work carried out by the Audit Office.
Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim said that the budget had to be increased to facilitate the recruitment of 43 additional employees to the office.
From the MVR 57.8 million, MVR 54 million has been assigned as recurrent expenditure and MVR3.8 million as capital expenditure.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Local Government Authority (LGA) has been blamed by Male’ City Council for failing to cooperate with the council in providing services to the people.
In a statement made by the council, it alleged that legally obligated plans are currently pending due to LGA failing to heed requests for technical expertise for the work of the City Council.
The Council also highlighted that LGA had failed to provide information and extend cooperation needed to draft plans for the development of the capital Male.
“Male City Council has failed to provide the services to the people as the resources and funds needed haven’t been received from the relevant authorities.
“In addition, each and every responsibility being looked at in an investigative manner by LGA and relevant State institutions is unnecessary,” a City Council statement said.
The statement alleged that following the regime change on February 7, political influence has found its way into the new LGA board, creating a major obstacle to the council’s mandate.
The LGA have also been accused by City Council of launching investigations into every request made for the assistance of the authority.
The decentralisation system could collapse if the LGA failed to extend cooperation and assistance to the councils, City Council warns.
(0)Dislikes(0)A proposal to make contributions to the pension scheme voluntary has been rejected by the Parliament’s Social Committee.
The current Pension Act stipulates that it is obligatory to participate in the pension scheme, however a revision of the act has been proposed by Fares-Maathoda MP, Ibrahim Mutthalib.
Mutthalib’s revision states that the pension scheme should be made voluntary and the current pension wage of 7 percent should be reduced to 3.5 percent of salaries.
After assessment and discussion, it was decided by the Committee that the Pension Act does not require the proposed revision.
The Attorney General’s Office, Pension Administration Office, Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Maldives Association of Construction Industry, and Maldives Association of Tourism Industry, were all involved in the discussion on how the current pension scheme would be affected, should the revision be approved.
The committee’s decision on the revision has been sent to Parliament.
(0)Dislikes(0)Victory Day celebrations are to take place this month in Male’, the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) has confirmed.
The MNDF said that celebrations will be held in Republican Square, beginning at 8:30pm on November 14.
According to the MNDF, there will be three different events to celebrate the occasion, including a music show featuring famous Maldivian artists accompanied by the MNDF brass band.
The MNDF have said that speeches will be given by senior orators and school students on the subject of Victory Day.
A video presentation on the events of 3 November 1988 will also be screened, followed by fireworks, the MNDF have said.
The celebrations will commemorate the national tragedy of 3 November, when a group of mercenaries from Sri Lanka attacked the capital killing 19 Maldivians.
(0)Dislikes(0)Two regional harbours in the Maldives are to be taken over by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), it has been announced.
CEO of MPL, Mahdhy Imad, said both Gan and Kulhudhuffushi harbours were not being maintained properly and will not develop if the current model continues to be followed.
Speaking to SunOnline, he said: “Because we would be able to operate them better, we have decided to take over them. We will not make much profit from them.”
According to Imad, the harbours will be made independent only after they can stand on their own two feet, and there will be no changes made to the prices of services.
“Because we are experiencing tough times economically, we plan to stick to the current model and same fees, and move forward slowly,” he added.
(0)Dislikes(0)Taxi drivers across Male are set to go on strike on Monday in protest of the Transport Ministry’s decision to issue stickers on illegally parked vehicles.
Abdulla Ibrahim, who is leading the protest, highlighted the lack of parking spaces in the capital, alleging the government is going ahead with the idea without a proper plan.
According to Mr Ibrahim, taxi centres will not accept the Transport Ministry’s decision to issue stickers under the current circumstances.
Speaking to Haveeru Online, he said: “There is no room to park cars. If we park the car for breakfast, there will be a sticker. There will be a sticker for afternoon and evening, we will have to spend a lot of money.
“We will gather at Raalhugandu Area and from there we will go to the Transport Ministry with posters and banners.”
9292 Taxi Centre has said that four pickup centres and nine taxi centres will participate in the protest.
According to the Transport Authority, stickers issued on illegally parked cars will carry a fine of MVR 250 (US$16) for the first, MVR 500 (US$32) for the second and MVR 750 (US$48) for each following sticker.
(0)Dislikes(0)Employees working under the health corporations have been transferred to the civil service from the first of November.
According to local media reports, the Health Ministry informed all health corporations across the country that their employees would be transferred to the Civil Service last week.
However, reports suggested that health corporations have not been yet abolished and the framework of employees in the corporations have not been adjusted to that of the Civil Service.
According officials from health corporations, the new change would mean that wages of employees would be adjusted in accordance with the wages set for the civil servants by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), although a decision on the matter is yet to be made.
The decision to transfer all the employees of health corporations came following discussion in cabinet.
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