Author: Minivan News

PPM files registration forms

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), headed by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, submitted registration forms to the Elections Commission today.

PPM interim council member Aishath Azima Shakoor told Haveeru that the commission would register the party within a week’s time.

The commission has a one-month period to formally register the party.

PPM held its registration meeting on Saturday at which it elected former President Gayoom as its interim President, rejecting no other applicants for the position.

The party also approved its constitution, manifesto, and palm-crescent logo with the official party color, magenta.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Parliament urged to vote against Bari

The parliamentary committee assigned to review Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari’s reappointment as Islamic Minister has advised against the recommendation.

Nine out of 11 members of the Government Accountability Committee voted against Bari’s reappointment.

According to committee member Villufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, only four members of ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted for Bari’s appointment. Meanwhile, four opposition MPs voted against it. Committee chair Hanimaadhoo MP Mohamed Mujthaz tipped the vote.

Riyaz told Haveeru news that the committee made its decision based on the assertion that Bari earlier resigned from the position without a valid reason.

Bari first resigned as Adhaalath Party’s Scholars Council President on September 29, and then stepped down as the Islamic Minister on October 3 when the party decided to sever coalition ties with MDP. He was reappointed on October 9.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Maldivian national commits suicide in Trivandrum, phone in hand

A 22 year-old Maldivian studying in Trivandrum, India hanged himself in his room on Wednesday, October 19.

Another Maldivian residing in Trivandrum reported that the young man had been “seen having fun” earlier that day, Haveeru reports.

The individual told Haveeru that the suicide was triggered by a relationship issue, noting that the young man been found dead with a phone in his hand.

The young man was studying for a diploma in Airport Management, and was planning to visit Male’ in November. His body has been transferred to a mortuary for examination.

Likes(0)Dislikes(1)

Madhana takes bids as goverment backs away from profit

National health insurance program Madhana will be privatised under a Public-Private Partnership to prevent “unwise” government control of a profitable business, said President Mohamed Nasheed.

The president said all citizens would be included in the insurance program by next January as long as Parliament passes the relevant Tax and Business Profit Tax bills.

An estimated Rf850 million will be spend on insuring the Maldives’ entire population. The government hopes to sign an agreement with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in November, which would provide a US$258 million loan towards developing health services in Addu City, reports Haveeru.

The Madhana program will be handed over once proposals from local and foreign companies have been received and reviewed.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

India deploys Dornier aircraft to Maldives for anti-piracy patrols

India has deployed another Dornier aircraft to the Maldives to assist in anti-piracy patrols and maritime surveillance, reports the Times of India.

The aircraft will operate in the Maldives for three weeks following “alarm bells in the Indian security establishment over renewed efforts by China to further expand its footprint in Maldives,” the paper reported.

India is also assisting with hydrographic surveys and the building of a network of ground radars across all 26 atolls, linked with Indian maritime systems, the paper noted.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

School boards call Dhivehi exam resit unneccessary

Male’ secondary school boards have sent a resolution to the Education Ministry to reject its plan to hold a resit of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Dhivehi examination.

The resolution was endorsed by seven school boards, representing Dharumavantha School, Hiriya School, Majeediyya School, Arabiyya School, Ameeniyya School, Muhyiddeen School and Ghaazee School.

The resit was scheduled after the test was deemed too similar to a sample exam earlier circulated among schools, reports Haveeru.

School boards have claimed that the students should not be forced to re-take the exam since the actual test paper was not leaked. According to Haveeru, their resolution also claimed a lack of precedent for holding an exam resit after test papers were leaked, and asked the ministry to release the exam results.

The original SSC Dhivehi exam was held on October 9.

The ministry has scheduled a resit of the exam on November 19, after the ongoing O-Level examination.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Amendment to open visa laws sent for further review

An amendment to the Immigration Act was sent to the National Security Committee for review with 56 votes in favour and 31 against.

The bill, presented by Hulhu-Henveiru MP Moosa ‘Reeko’ Manik, would give foreign businessmen and investors in the Maldives easy access to resident visas. The amendment bill is part of the government’s 18-bill economic reform package.

The amendment would make visas available to foreigners married to Maldivians; legal guardians of children born in marriages including a Maldivian; investors; investors involved in government material and financial development projects; and foreigners providing technical service.

An amendment to the parliamentary rules of procedure to allow foreign heads of state and dignitaries to address parliament was meanwhile passed 59-2 at today’s sitting.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Thoddoo bolsters schools, sewers and sea walls

President Mohamed Nasheed inaugurated the newly-established sewer systems as well as the revetment of the seawall in Alifu Alifu Thoddoo on Monday, October 17.

The President has also laid the foundation for six new classrooms at Thoddoo Madhurasa. The classrooms are part of a government plan to convert all schools to single session schools.

Commending residents of Thoddoo for their hard work on island development, the President also pointed out that the island sells many local products on the market.

During World Food Day celebrations on Sunday, October 16, the President encouraged the Maldivian people to make greater use of their local natural resources and promote a sustainable economy.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Tourism industry will benefit from France visit: Sun Travel Shiyam

Independent MP Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam, chairman of the Sun Travel Group, has said the tourism industry will benefit from President Mohamed Nasheed’s official visit to France last week, reports Miadhu.

The MP for Meedhoo told the newspaper that tourist arrivals from France will increase by 20 or 30 percent as a result of discussions that took place with French travel and tour operators. Shiyam was part of the Maldivian delegation.

The delegation also discussed the importance of establishing a promotional unit in France to advertise the Maldives as a tourist destination.

Shiyam, a former deputy leader of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) prior to the 2008 presidential election, has been voting with the ruling party on the government’s economic reform bills.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)