Author: Minivan News

PPM to officially create party this month

Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) will hold an official party creation meeting on October 15. The party is headed by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

PPM interim spokesperson MP Ahmed Mahloof told newspaper Haveeru that the meeting’s agenda includes electing an interim governing body, endorsing the party logo, flag and manifesto, and finalising the party’s charter.

The Maldives’ political parties regulation requires 300 members at a registration meeting. On September 20, PPM applied for registration with 3,600 signatures.

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President inaugurates Male’ City greenery programme

President Mohamed Nasheed inaugurated a city council programme last week to plant trees in the congested capital city for “a greener, shadier, and more peaceful Male’.”

Speaking at a ceremony on Thursday, President Nasheed underscored the progress of the government’s flagship “Veshi Fahi Male'” housing programme, revealing plans to build more flats in an additional six areas of Male’.

Under the greenery programme meanwhile, the city council plans to plant 600 trees on both sides of the main thoroughfare Majeedhee Magu.

While the Indian High Commission has donated 10,000 trees, the council has also been receiving donations from islands, individuals and businesses.

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Northern Utilities Ltd. heads home

President Mohamed Nasheed has relocated the Head Office of Northern Utilities Ltd. to Felivaru of Lhaviyani atoll.

The relocation of this and other utility head offices is meant to bring service providers closer to their clients, the people.

Under a current relocation plan, the government is moving head utility offices from their Male’ bases to the provinces they serve.

In his speech at Felivaru on Thursday, President Nasheed noted that the seven utility companies established in the country’s seven provinces had been successful, and thanked directors and board members of Northern Utilities Ltd. for their efforts.

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Exemplary teachers recognised with ‘Teaching Excellence Awards’

“Teaching Excellence Awards” in eight categories were handed out at a ceremony last night to celebrate Teacher’s Day.

The categories included best pre-school teacher, best secondary school teacher and best teacher for children with special needs. The recipients were awarded a monetary gift of Rf30,000 (US$1,945).

Speaking at the ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed said that teachers played the most important role in the country’s development.

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MIRA to conduct nationwide campaign to raise awareness on GST

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has decided to conduct a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of the newly-introduced General Goods and Services Tax (G-GST).

Sun Online reported that 13 teams from MIRA would be visiting 20 atolls in the coming days to inform the public and help businesses register with the tax collection authority.

The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI) meanwhile filed a case at the High Court last week seeking a temporary injunction to halt the implementation of the GST Act. The group of businessmen argue that a number of provisions in the Act were unconstitutional.

However the High Court informed the appellants to correct errors in their case forms and re-submit it. The first hearing is likely to take place next week.

Read the MIRA FAQ on GST here.

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Maldives aims beyond usual Sri Lankan investments

The Maldives showed interest in increasing investments from Sri Lanka at the fourth annual meeting of the Sri Lanka, according to the Maldives Bilateral Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Among the investments discussed were construction, transport and energy. Officials also discussed expanding a credit line beyond fruits and vegetables for Sri Lankan exporters, reports Lanka Business Online.

An expanded credit line could allegedly broaden business opportunities in the Maldives and alleviate the Maldives’ current difficulties with a foreign currency shortage, council president Hussain S. Hashim allegedly said.

The council, which was formed in 2007, addresses business relationships between the two countries. The Maldives imports Sri Lankan textiles, clothing, jewellery, produce and tea, and exports a variety of fish products as well as cement clinker to its neighbour.

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Police sign memorandum with US government for counter-terrorism cooperation

The Maldives Police Service signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with the US government on Tuesday to “enhance the abilities of the law enforcement agencies of the government of Maldives to deter terrorists and terrorist groups from engaging in international terrorist acts.”

The MoI was signed by Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh on behalf of the government while the Ambassador of the United States of America, Patricia Butenis, signed for the American government.

According to a police press statement, the US State Department would be providing assistance to the Maldivian police under its anti-terrorism assistance programme.

The purpose of the MoI is to establish a mechanism for local law enforcement to cooperate with the US government in counter-terrorism activities, the statement said.

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DRP threatens disciplinary action against two councillors

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has threatened disciplinary action against two of its councillors in Fuvahmulah after the pair voted against the party line in a no-confidence motion against the Dhadimagu ward council chair.

A press statement from the party noted that Hussein Ihsan and Mohamed Farish ignored instructions from the party’s administration.

The DRP council will discuss possible disciplinary action against the pair at its next meeting, the statement said.

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Dhiraagu launches IPO

Telecommunications giant Dhiraagu launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) last night to offer 11.4 million shares (15 percent of the company’s stake) to the public at a rate of Rf80 per share from December 25 onward.

At a launching ceremony last night, Customer Services and Sales Director Ali Riyaz explained that application forms as well as the prospectus would now be available from Dhiraagu front offices and Bank of Maldives branches.

The forms would not be available for download for security reasons, he said. Completed forms are to be submitted between October 25 to November 30.

Meanwhile special seminars in Male’ and the atolls are being planned to provide information to the public.

The company revealed this week that it earned Rf968 million (US$62.7 million) as profit in 15 months with an income of about Rf2.5 billion (US$162 million).

Speaking at the ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed revealed that the government intended to sell its remaining 33 percent share of the company to the public.

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