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Government to form institution providing pilgrimage services

The Islamic Ministry has said it will form the “Maldivian People’s Hajj Fund”, an institution that will work to provide affordable pilgrimage services.

In a press conference Islamic Affairs Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said the purpose of the institution was to provide people with the opportunity to go on the hajj, by paying a smaller amount of money.

He also added that work was under way in preparing the documents needed to be presented to the cabinet to discuss the matter.

Shaheem added that he had already discussed about the proposal with President Mohamed Waheed Hassan and Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad.

Shaheem further said that even if a person deposited money to the fund, it would not necessarily mean that he would be granted with a placement from the quota of pilgrimages that the Maldives receives from Saudi Arabia.

According to the Minister, the institution would be formed on the principles of a similar institution set up in Malaysia.

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New soft loan scheme to be launched by BML

A new loan scheme is to be introduced by the Bank of Maldives (BML) following its previous soft loan plan, the bank has announced.

BML has previously issued MVR 15,000 (US$970) loans without a mortgage as part of their soft loan scheme, which the bank claimed had proven popular with the public.

The new scheme will be an extension of the existing plan, however BML has not stated its ceiling value or interest rates.

Only BML customers who have had their salaries deposited into their respective accounts continuously for one year will be eligible for the new soft loan scheme.

BML have stated that the new product will not require customers to submit quotations, and that the service is expected to commence soon.

The previous MVR 15,000 small loan scheme will not be ceased with the introduction of the new plan, the bank said.

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Women’s development committees elected amid low turnout

Elections took place in 102 islands across the country on Wednesday for women’s development committees to function under island and city councils.

Candidates for six seats in Male’ were elected by default as only one candidate contested for the seats.

Candidates from the formerly ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were elected to all eleven seats of the women’s committee in the capital Male’.

Turnout in the capital was however low. Of 2,013 eligible voters from the Hulhu-Henveiru district, only 223 women cast their ballots.

In other constituencies in Male’ turnouts stood at 211 out of 1,814 in mid-Henveiru, 159 out of 1,479 in Galolhu North and 142 out of 1,800 in Manchangoalhi North.

Following the election, MDP Chairperson and MP for Hulhu-Henveiru, ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, congratulated the winning candidates and expressed gratitude to the party’s women’s wing, elections committee and secretariat for conducting a successful campaign.

MDP candidates were also elected to women’s committees in Noonu Velidhoo and Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo.

Local Government Authority (LGA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Shukuree however told local daily Haveeru on November 4 that there were no candidates from 44 islands.

Under article 36 of the landmark Decentralisation Act (Dhivehi), the powers and responsibilities of women’s committees are: (a) Advise island council on matters related to island development and municipal services provided by the council; (b) Own properties and conduct business activities with others in the name of the committee; (c) Sue and be sued in the name of the committee; (d) Conduct various activities for income generation and for the development of women; (e) Work to uphold the rights of women; (f) Work to increase religious awareness amongst women; (g) Work to increase political participation of women; (h) Work to increase the numbers of women enrolled in higher education; (i) Work to improve the health condition of women; (j) Gather important information related to women; (k) Manage assets and finance of the committee.

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Bank of Maldives opens new branch

The Bank of Maldives Plc Ltd (BML) opened a new branch in Male’ at the ground floor of the STO trade centre to provide cash withdrawal and deposit services.

The new branch or BML Lite was opened by Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Dr Fazeel Najeeb at a ceremony on Thursday.

The new branch is an addition to the existing three branches in Male’.

“Two self-service machines are available for cash and cheque deposits at this branch. The machine is of the most popular brands used by the banks worldwide. The machine is highly secure, easy to use and has the capacity to accept up to 40 cheques at a time. Cash deposits should be made in a sealed envelope and the machine can accept up to 40 notes at a time,” according to BML.

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Government to assist fisheries sector with HCFC-free refrigeration switch

The Maldives’ government is to assist the fishing industry in switching to alternative hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) free refrigeration technologies under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the environment and fisheries ministries.

The MoU signed this week by Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ahmed Shafeeu and Minister of State for Environment and Energy Abdul Matheen will aim to phase out the use of HCFC refrigerants in the fishing sector by the end of the decade, according to local media.

The use of HCFC refrigerants has been linked to depletion of the ozone layer and as a result, is presently the subject of international treaties to curb such an impact.

under the MoU, S un Online has reported that both ministries will target the introduction of HCFC-free technologies in the Maldives as well as introducing policies to support such efforts in line with the Montreal Protocol signed by the country back in 1989.

The Montreal Protocol calls for an end to HCFC usage by 2020 – a date that also coincides with the Maldives’ deadline for efforts to try becoming a carbon neutral economy.

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Cabinet opts to expand foreign investment oppurtunities

Cabinet ministers have opted to try expanding the number of investment opportunities available in the Maldives in order to generate interest from foreign enterprises.

Following discussions on a paper presented to the cabinet by the Ministry of Economic Development, a decision was taken yesterday to create a “scheme of action” outlining how to attract and handle foreign investments being made in the Maldives, according to the President’s Office website.

The cabinet was also said to have agreed on the need for a specific investor focus around the provision of basic needs, updating public services and developing the country’s economic landscape.

As a result of the investment plan, the islands of aakan’doodhoo and Firun’baidhoo in Shaviyani Atoll and Maakuredhdhoo in Noonu Atoll are expected to be leased out for long-term agricultural projects.

The cabinet’s decision comes as Indian media earlier this month raised concerns that enterprises including TATA and infrastructure group GMR – both presently operating in the Maldives – were struggling to overcome political interference they claim is derailing their substantial investments in the country.

GMR, contracted to develop and manage a new terminal at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) in Male’ in the largest foreign investment project ever seen in the country, is facing opposition from some government-aligned parties over allegations about the validity of its contract.

GMR has denied the allegations, adding that all relevant documentation was overseen at the time by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Last month, Jumhoree Party (JP) Deputy Leader Abdulla Jabir criticised attempts to “politicise” the dispute between the government and India-based GMR over an agreement to develop INIA – fearing a negative impact on foreign investment.

However, the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI) has stated that legal wrangling between the government and India-based developer GMR over the multi-million dollar airport development would not harm confidence in the country’s “challenging” investment climate.

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Resolution calling for Dr Shaheed’s dismissal from UN post removed from Majlis agenda

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim – presiding in the absence of Speaker Abdulla Shahid – removed from the agenda a resolution submitted by Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed calling for the dismissal of former Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed from his post as UN Special Rapporteur on Iran.

Nazim said at the beginning of today’s sitting that the item could not be tabled in the agenda and apologised for having previously tabled it for debate and announced a first reading.

He noted that the UN and not the Maldivian government had appointed Dr Shaheed to the post.

The People’s Alliance Leader made the apology after Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ahmed Sameer raised a point of order to object to the resolution being accepted in August, contending that in doing so parliament had defamed Dr Shaheed.

“If someone told him that a resolution in the parliament is not going to strip him of his FIFA referee accreditation, he might understand,” Dr Shaheed told Minivan News when the resolution was first submitted by the DQP Deputy Leader.

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Audit of GMR airport deal to be completed in February

Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim has said that a special audit of the awarding of a concession agreement to develop, manage and operate Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) to a consortium of Indian infrastructure giant GMR and Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) is currently underway and will be completed in February 2013.

Niyaz told state broadcaster Television Maldives (TVM) yesterday (November 5) that an experienced British auditor was expected to join the team conducting the audit during the first week of December.

“We have completed a large portion of [the audit] with a special team dedicated to it,” Niyaz said. “We have been able to collect almost all the documentation we need and have reviewed them.”

He added that the audit of the bidding process has been completed. “After that, we will carry out a study of the contract and different analyses,” he said.

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