Author: Minivan News

83 illegal migrant workers arrested in Addu

Police have arrested 83 illegal expat workers living on Addu Atoll, according to Chief Superintendent of Police Abdulla Fairoosh.

Speaking to the press, Fairoosh said that all the workers were arrested in a special operation conducted over the past two months to enhance security for the upcoming SAARC summit.

Fairoosh said that all the migrants had been handed to Immigration Department.

He also said that some roads will be closed during SAARC and only authorised vehicles can travel on those roads.

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Special Forces arrive for Operation Dolphin SAARC Summit

Maldives’ Special Forces team flew to Gan of Addu City in an Indian Air Force aircraft today to begin operations for the upcoming SAARC summit.

The elite branch of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) will be participating in Operation Dolphin SAARC Summit in the region’s south, reports Haveeru.

The team, which has trained with Special Forces personnel in the US Army, will be specifically responsible for VVIP security and counter-terrorism operations.

Special Forces will be instructed by the SAARC Summit Taskforce and the Southern Area Command.

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Finance Ministry requests revision of housing bids

The Finance Ministry has requested companies that submitted bids for housing projects in Male’ and Gaaf Dhaal atoll Thinadhoo to re-submit the bids before Tuesday, October 25 with certain details.

Six Indian companies had submitted bids for the project on September 26. The project, supervised by the Housing Ministry, will erect 500 housing units at the Maafannu Boduge land plot, the former VTC land plot on Alikilegefaanu Magu, and the land plot where debris is dumped, reports Haveeru..

The Indian government granted the Maldives a US$40 million loan for the project.

State Housing Minister Akran Kamaluddin told Haveeru News that no bids were cancelled.

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Health Minister recognized by Thai Princess

Health Minister Dr Aminath Jameel yesterday received Thailand’s 2011 Princess Srinagarindra Award from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in Thailand’s Grand Palace.

The Princess recognized Dr Jameel for her work progressing nursing and midwifery as professions. According to local media, the Princess identified Dr Jameel’s support of a diploma course and the local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals as important contributions to improving health care nation-wide.

Princess Maha Chakri is president of the Princess Srinagarindra Award Foundation. Created in 2000, the award is granted annually to an individual or a group of registered nurses and/or midwives who have made significant contributions to healthcare at the local and international level.

The award is typically presented the day before the late Princess Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Mahidol’s centenary birthday, October 21.

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Travel, foreign ministry expenses soar over last 30 days

State expenditures reached Rf1.3 billion in almost one month, the Finance Ministry has revealed.

Government spending exceeded the income of Rf7.5 billion, reaching Rf9 billion by October 20.

Monthly expenditures average at a figure lower than Rf1 billion.

Although a majority of state income is spent on loans and shareholdings annually, expense records indicate that government travel and costs incurred by the Foreign Ministry took the biggest hike in the last 30 days.

Between January 1 and October 13, Rf715 million was spent on providing loans and loan repayment. Another Rf556 million was spent on companies in which the government holds shares.

Rf87 million, a majority of state income, has so far been spent on travel costs for government officials, parliament and the judiciary. Nearly one-quarter of those expenses, Rf21 million, were charged last month.

The Foreign Ministry recorded the largest expenditure last month at Rf118 million. That monthly sum doubled the Rf107 million which had been spent during the previous nine months, reports Haveeru.

The second largest amount of state expenditures were accounted for by the Tax Appeal Tribunal, which recorded a 59 percent increase in costs.

According to Finance Ministry records, the state spent Rf1.6 billion in capital expenditure. Rf6.5 billion was spent on recurrent costs, approximately half of which went to wages and salaries (Rf3.6 billion).

Rf905 million was spent on completing unfinished buildings.

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SBI sues Foreign Minister’s family

The State Bank of India (SBI) has filed a case against the family of Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem for a loan guarantee provided by his mother for five loans from the bank.

Newspaper Haveeru reported yesterday that the case was filed against Naseem and other heirs of his mother Mariyam Ismail: Naseema Mohamed, Saleema Mohamed, Waseema Mohamed, Asima Mohamed, and Umaima Mohamed.

Other guarantors in the case include Ali Saleem of Henveiru Hikifinifenmage; Abdul Aziz of Maafannu Athassaagiri; and Mohamed Shiyam of Henveiru Maabadeyri Aage.

SBI claimed that Friends Incorporated Private Limited was issued a loan of Rf500,000 on August 11, 1994, along with a Rf900,000 loan and a US$100,000 (Rf1,542,000) loan on April 15, 1998. The company however still owes Rf6,432,280 to the bank in outstanding loan repayments.

Moreover, according to SBI, Friends Incorporated owes US$1,376,081 (Rf21,219,169) out of a US$50,000 (Rf771,000) loan taken on October 1, 1995, a loan of US$250,000 (Rf3,855,000) taken on April 15, 1997 and another US$175,000 (Rf2,698,000) loan taken on January 26, 1999.

As the company had mortgaged all of its assets and the “Kalamidhi” plot, SBI requested the court to sell all the mortgaged assets if the company fails to settle the outstanding payments and interest.

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Hithadhoo hospital start date awaits funds

Construction of a Rf385 million hospital project for Hithadhoo of Addu City will begin in early 2012, pending funds.

The project will provide new buildings and services to Hithadhoo Regional Hospital, Haveeru reports.

Construction will begin once funding has been secured.

The government last week announced its intention to sign an agreement with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) during the upcoming SAARC summit. The agreement would provide a US$25 million loan to the new project.

Addu City infrastructure is currently being upgraded to accommodate the 17th annual SAARC summit between November 10-11. The new convention center where the summit will be held is the Maldives’ largest building.

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Gayoom not invited to SAARC for precedent, allegations

The Maldivian government will not invite former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to the upcoming SAARC summit, to be held in Addu City and Fuvahmulah between November 10-11.

According to local media, Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem yesterday said the allegations against Gayoom of “killing people” and “torture” made it difficult for the government to extend an invitation.

“LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] leader Prabhakaran wasn’t invited to previous SAARC summits because of such allegations against him. So it’s hard for me to do it,” Naseem said earlier on MNBC One.

Local police are currently investigating Gayoom’s son, Gassan Maumoon, for the violent turnout of a protest by ruling party MDP on Thursday, October 20.

Former heads of state are not routinely invited to SAARC summits.

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Gun theft “could not have happened” at Addu’s Southern Command Centre

Reports of missing guns from the Southern Command Centre in Addu City have been denied by Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

Armed forces spokesperson First Lieutenant Abdulla Ali told local media that such an incident “couldn’t have happened at the centre because our management is much more organised. We don’t have to worry about guns missing from the centre.”

The command centre is currently holding special training programmes in preparation of the SAARC Summit, to be held in Addu and Fuvahmulah between November 10-11. The armed forces has established a Joint Inter-Agency Taskforce to oversee summit security at the centre, Haveeru reports.

All countries participating in the SAARC summit are providing security forces and equipment for the event.

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