Author: Minivan News

PA Nazim agreed to sell resort for Thasmeen

Minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) Deputy Leader Ahmed Nazim agreed to sell Shaviyani Kabalifaru, which was leased for development as a resort in 2005, for main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali to raise money for a loan of over Rf2 million (US$155,600) owed to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thasmeen’s lawyer said at yesterday’s final hearing of Nazim’s lawsuit at the Civil Court.

According to local media reports, Shaheem Ahmed, Thasmeen’s lawyer, denied that an agreement was made between the pair to pay back the loan in a month, claiming that to date Nazim has failed to find a buyer for Kabalifaru as agreed upon in November 2008.

Shaheem also denied Nazim’s claim that the loan was taken to pay back Thasmeen’s debts at the Bank of Maldives.

However Nazim’s lawyer, Mohamed Saleem, disputed both claims, demanding documentation to prove that Thasmeen gave power of attorney to Nazim to sell the resort.

Judge Hathif Hilmy adjourned the hearing after informing the parties that a judgment would be given at the next court date.

Deputy Speaker Nazim is suing Majority Leader Thasmeen to recover Rf1.92 million (US$149,400) allegedly unpaid from a loan worth Rf2.55 million (US$200,000) along with Rf100,000 (US$7,782) incurred as lawyer’s fees.

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Cabinet to reclaim 10 islands for tourism development in Male’ atoll

Cabinet has decided to reclaim and develop 10 islands in various lagoons in Male’ atoll, in an effort to cater to interest from investors and developers for tourist facilities near Male.

“Cabinet members also noted that the opportunities available to reclaim and develop islands using environmentally friendly technologies,” the President’s office observed in a statement.

The 10 islands consist of 5-10 hectares each in Male’ atoll, although the final size and shape of the islands will be left to investors.

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Court extends MP Adil’s detention

The Criminal Court has extended the detention of MDP MP for Maradhoo Hassan Adil a second time following his arrest for allegations of child abuse on April 4.

The Court extended Adil’s detention by 15 days for the second time, after police and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) launched a joint investigation into the case.

Adil was formerly a member of the opposition-aligned Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP), before jumping to the ruling MDP in September last year.

MDP Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi has previously told Minivan News that if Adhil was found guilty “then of course the party should [take action]. The party does not condone such acts. But we should only speculate after the court has come to a verdict.”

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Maldives’ football champs invited to inaugural South Asia club tournament

The Maldives is expected to be among eight nations taking part in an inaugural club football tournament scheduled for later this year under the auspices of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).

This season’s Maldivian champions will be invited along with their counterparts in Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan to face off in a competition taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between September 1 and September 15. These teams are expected to be joined by the top two sides from the national leagues of India and Bangladesh.

According to India-based newspaper, the Calcutta Telegraph, local governing body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has claimed to have agreed to the scheduled dates for the tournament, yet added that the actual details of the competition are still to be decided.

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DRP deputy seeks audience with president over gang fears

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP and Deputy Leader, Ali Waheed, has reportedly met with President Mohamed Nasheed in Male’ over fears of growing gang violence across the country.

According to Haveeru, the meeting with Nasheed occurred yesterday at his official residence on the behest of Ali Waheed in an attempt to raise concerns over violence linked to gangs. No official confirmation of the exact outcome of the talks has been given as yet.

However, upon departing from the president’s Muleeage residence, Ali Waheed told the newspaper that the discussion had been focused on perceived increases in gang violence.

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19 year old man arrested for alleged rape of 74 year-old woman

Police have arrested a 19 year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a 74 year-old elderly woman on Hithadhoo in in Seenu Atoll.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said police were informed of the incident, which occurred this morning, but offered no further information.

”We are currently investigating the incident,” Shiyam said.

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Institute of local governance and development launched

The Institute of Local Governance and Development, a private initiative of Bandos Island Resort owner and former Atolls Minister Mohamed Waheed Deen, was inaugurated at a ceremony at Dharubaaruge convention centre last night by Commonwealth Local Government Forum Secretary General Carl Wright.

In his keynote speech, Wright praised the former minister as “the founding father of local government in the Maldives.”

Waheed Deen spearheaded efforts to introduce local governance through elected councils before resigning as Atolls Minister in August, 2008.

At last night’s ceremony, Waheed Deen explained that his institute will support the decentralisation process and promote good governance by providing training programmes, consultation and information.

As its first order of business, the institute plans to conduct a two week course for newly-elected councillors at Bandos.

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Bank of Maldives Chairman resigns

Adam Ibrahim, Chairman of the Bank of Maldives (BML) board of directors, resigned from his post yesterday after two years on the job.

Local media reports that Abdulla Shiyam, Ma. Naibuge, has been proposed as a replacement. Eight members to the 11-member BML board are appointed by the government.

Asrafee Bookshop Managing Director Adam Ibrahim was appointed Chairman on August 7, 2009.

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Tourist arrivals climb on strength of Asia Pacific demand

New tourist statistics show there were 246,606 arrivals to the Maldives over the first three months of 2011, a figure up 12.3 percent over the same time last year on the back of strong interest from the Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Between January and March 2011, the Asia Pacific region in particular posted significant growth in tourist numbers, which were up by 36 percent compared to the same period last year, amounting to 69,024 arrivals to the Maldives – 28 percent of the total number of visitors recorded over the quarter. China was the region’s key tourist market for the Maldives, with 52,345 recorded visitors over the first three months of the year representing an increase of 53.2 percent compared to back in 2010. Arrivals from South Asia were also up by 41 percent to reach 9,913 visitors, a figure helped primarily by increased interest from India. Indian arrivals between January and March compared to the same period last year rose by 46 percent to 6,891 people.

The total tourism figures for the South Asia region, which includes nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, accounted for just four percent of the total number of arrivals to the Maldives between January and March this year. Visitors from Europe, who accounted for 68.2 percent of total arrivals to the Maldives during the quarter, rose by 4.7 percent to 168,307 over the same period of time the previous year.

The statistics show that the increase was driven primarily by demand from Western European nations such as France, Austria and Belgium, as well as 27,324 visitors from Central and Eastern Europe, a figure up by 22.2 percent during the quarter when compared to 2010.

Western Europe, which accounted for 27.1 percent of the total number of visitors to the Maldives during the first three months of 2011, saw 66,755 people travelling to the Maldives over the period, up 8.8 percent from the 61,341 visitors recorded the previous year.

However, despite the overall increase in arrivals, visitor numbers from northern and Southern Europe declined over the three months by 4.1 percent and 3.3 percent respectively, particularly within key markets like the UK and Italy.

The number of travellers from the UK, which represented 11.2 percent of all tourist visitors to the Maldives between January and March this year, fell by 8.2 percent to 27,728 when compared to last year. Similarly the number of Italians travelling to the country, 14.8 percent of total visitors between Janaury and March, fell by 2.6 percent to 36,468 people over the same period of time.

In other international regions, the figures recorded that tourist arrivals from the Middle East were up by 10.5 percent to 2,428 over the quarter compared to last year, while arrivals from Africa increased by 10.1 percent amounting to 1,269 people.

Visitor numbers from the Americas increased by 18.8 percent over the three month period to 5,578, according to the figures.

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