Author: Minivan News

MDP wins Kela after election repoll

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has won four of the five seats of Kela Island Council while the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has secured Kela’s two seats on the Haa Alif Atoll Council, after the Elections Commission repeated the election process.

The re-poll was ordered by the High Court which ruled that the original vote on February 5 was invalid, with public anger erupting after election officials turned away those who turned up to vote after the deadline.

Successful MDP candidates for Kela included Ali Shareef, Abdulla Zubair, Haulath Mahira and Hassan Mamdooh while Adam Asad was elected on a DRP ticket.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Air tickets rise in price as rufiya falls

Several air ticket agencies in Male’ have raised the price of tickets in response to the government’s decision to authorise the trade of dollars at up to Rf15.42.

Haveeru reported that Villa Travels, the local agent for Malaysia Airlines and Indian Airlines, had increased its dollar exchange rate to Rf15.42, increasing the cost of a Male-Trivandrum ticket by Rf740.16 (US$60).

Galaxy Enterprises, which sells Sri Lankan Airlines tickets, last week announced it was suspending sale of tickets because of the dollar shortage.

Mac Air Services, the agent for budget airline Mihin Lanka, told Haveeru that ticket prices would remain unchanged as they had not been based on the official exchange rate of Rf12.85.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Parliament approves amendments to Pension Act

Parliament today passed amendments proposed by government to the Pension Act of 2009 to delay the inclusion of expatriate workers in the retirement pension scheme by at least three years.

The amendment bill was passed with 70 votes in favour and one against. Once ratified, the legislation would mandate the Pension Administration Office to formulate rules within one year for expatriate workers to join the retirement pension scheme.

Meanwhile at today’s sitting, an amendment proposed by minority opposition People’s Alliance (PA) MP Ahmed Nazim to exempt MPs from the scheme however did not pass after 41 MPs voted against it, 29 voted in favour and five abstained.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President relaxes exchange rate crackdown

The government has relaxed a blackmarket crackdown on the illegal exchange of dollars into rufiya, announcing today that the currency could be traded at a rate within 20 percent of the pegged 12.85 to the dollar.

The announcement effectively defangs the police crackdown by allowing trade of the rufiya up to Rf15.42, at a time when the supply of dollars sits below demand and banks are refusing to exchange the local currency.

Haveeru reported that President Nasheed had sent a letter to MMA Governor Fazeel Najeeb requesting he announce the new exchange rate. The government has criticised Najeeb for not addressing the dollar shortage and for lack of response to requests for advice and assistance, and has requested the MDP parliamentary group to press for his dismissal.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Islamic Ministry to submerge Quran in controlled disposal

The Islamic Ministry will conduct a controlled disposal of old and worn out copies of the Quran this coming Friday, offering a new copy for every three old copies reports Haveeru.

Islamic custom dictates that the Quran cannot be disposed of in the rubbish, and thus the Ministry is holding a special disposal according to Islamic principles.

The Qurans will be submerged in water in a joint operation conducted by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and Male’ City Council.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Three arrested over Badidhoo island council safe theft

Three men have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of Rf 60,000 (US$4670) from two safes in the Island Office of Badidhoo in Dhaal atoll, during which a guard was tied up with tape.

Six men have been arrested in the case so far, however police have declined to reveal further information.

Haveeru reported that one the men arrested had run as an MDP candidate for the Island Council in the recent local council elections.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Maldives film body reveals “grand” awards ceremony plans

The Maldives Film Association has announced its intentions to launch an awards ceremony later this year to honour local actors and directors for their work, newspaper Haveeru has reported.

The organisers of the Maldives Film Awards, which are scheduled for July 2011 and will be held in collaboration with local promotions group High Rise Maldives under a three-year deal, have said that the exact categories to be contested will be announced later this month.

According to the report, the Maldives Film Association has said it will be looking to add two foreign experts to the award’s judging panel as well as inviting high-profile Bollywood stars to be in attendance.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Four arrested in Badidhoo safe robbery

Police arrested four people in Dhaal Badidhoo today in connection to the theft of a safe with over Rf58,000 (US$4,500) at the island council office in the early hours of Friday, reports Sun Online.

A security watchman at the council secretariat was left bound and gagged by the thieves. The 55 year-old sustained minor injuries in the assault.

An official from the council told Sun Online that today’s arrests were made after police had prohibited anyone from leaving Badidhoo without permission.

The safes at the former Badidhoo island office and health centre were robbed on two occasions in the recent past.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Voting in progress in Kelaa by-election

Voting is in progress in Haa Alif Kelaa for the local council by-election ordered by the High Court after ruling the original poll on February 5 invalid.

The ballot box will be closed at 4pm and provisional results are expected by 7.30pm, according to the Elections Commission (EC).

Local daily Haveeru reports that over 600 Kelaa residents had voted by 11am.

Five candidates each from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party and opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party together with one candidate from the religious conservative Adhaalath Party are competing for the five-member island council while two candidates from each party are contesting the two atoll council seats.

Speaking in Kelaa on Thursday during his ongoing tour of the northernmost atoll, President Mohamed Nasheed hailed the by-election as a sign of restoration of justice in the country.

“I am encouraged by the new reality we are seeing. Today we see a clear sign of justice being restored,” he said.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)