Author: Minivan News

Travel study finds Maldives “most expensive” island destination

The Maldives has been identified as one of the world’s “most expensive” island hotel destinations, with an average room rate of US$539 per night.

The study by Hawaii-based tourism consultancy Hospitality Advisors compared resort islands in its home territory to those all over the world, covering 38,000 properties and nearly five million rooms.

The highest-ranking Hawaiian destination, Maui – averaging US$331 for a double room – was only topped in terms traveller experience polls (and prices) by the Maldives, which despite an average occupancy of 62.6 percent still managed to register the highest revenue per room.

The study noted the rising popularity of the Maldives as a travel destination for Asian tourists.

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Maldives Judge elected to UN Torture Prevention post

Maldives Judge Aisha Shujune Mohamed has been appointed to the elected to the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture.

The Foreign Ministry said that 36 out of 55 countries in the Subcommittee voted for the appointment of Judge Shujune UN office in Geneva, one of the first individuals from an Asian nation to be elected to the committee.

Judge Shujune is one of the founder members of the Maldives Detainee Network, now the ‘Maldives Democracy Network’.

The 20 member UN subcommittee works with governments to prevent torture and makes unannounced visits to prisons and detention centres to ensure detainees are not being mistreated.

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BML stops issuing Visa Debit cards in rufiya

The Bank of Maldives will cease issuing Visa Debit cards in rufiya from today.

Earlier the bank announced that the Visa Debit cards restriction to dollar accounts would only apply to foreigners in the country, but has now extended this to Maldivian citizens.

“The cards already issued can be used in other countries until the expiry date. After that when renewing or making a new card, Visa Debit will be issued only if the primary account is a dollar account. For rufiyaa accounts Amex Debit Card will be issued which can only be used locally,” Card Centre Head Mohamed Shareef told Haveeru.

The move effectively prevents both locals and foreign nationals from using cards to spend and withdraw rufiya overseas in foreign currency. Many foreign professionals working in the islands, such as doctors and teachers, have complained that this prevents them from sending money home without travelling to Male’.

According to the bank, US$400 per day can be drawn from Visa Debit Cards issued for rufiyaa accounts at foreign point-of-sale machines, and US$200 per day from overseas ATMs.

Shareef told Haveeru that the changes were introduced in agreement with Visa after discussions about the foreign currency status in Maldives.

“The card is issued under conditions. If services are not provided, it is against the agreement with Visa,” he told the newspaper.

The thriving black market for dollars in the Maldives, now somewhat institutionalised, currently ranges from Rf13.2 to Rf15 to the dollar depending on the size of the transaction. The pegged rate is Rf12.85.

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State debt reaches Rf1.6 billion, reports MMA

State debt reached Rf1.6 billion, (US$124.5 million) in July 2010, according a letter sent to parliament by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

Haveeru reported that the state spent Rf4.3 billion (US$334 million) while Rf3.5 (US$272 million) was received to the budget.

According to the letter, the MMA warned that high recurrent expenditure against revenue “would increase domestic demand in Maldives economy, affect the exchange rate and exacerbate the dollar shortage.”

According to Haveeru, the MMA highlighted the importance of passing the bill on income tax this year. It also recommended that foreign currency revenue be retained in the local banking system.

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Male’ motorcycle accident victim dies in India

A second person has died while being treated in hospital following a motorcycle in Male’ accident on October 23.

23 year-old Hassan Amir died Thursday evening while undergoing treatment in India, reported Haveeru.

Shaaheena Hassan, who was thrown from another motorcycle in the collision last week, died during treatment in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) last Sunday October 24.

Three motorcycles and a taxi were involved in the accident last week. The rider on one motorcycle in in police custody.

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Canadian Muslims build Arctic’s first minaret

Canadian Muslims have built the Arctic’s first minaret in Inuvik last month, traveling 4,000 kilometers over land and water to erect the structure which will serve a growing Muslim population in Canada’s far north.

AFP reported that the locally-built minaret has four levels and stands 10 metre off the ground.

“It’s really beautiful when we turn on the lights in the dark,” Amier Suliman, a mosque committee member, told AFP on Wednesday.

Only finishing touches, including applying a second coat of paint inside, and hooking up bathroom plumbing, remain before the mosque’s grand opening next week.

“Some will say it’s a new frontier for Islam,” Suliman told AFP. “But for me what is significant is that Muslims here who once prayed on Fridays at a local Catholic church or in a trailer now have a proper place to worship, with a proper minaret. Now we have a home to worship in our own hometown. That’s the most important for me.”

The facility will also double as a Muslim community center.

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Home ministry to build home for NGOs

The Home Ministry will build a 10 storey building for NGOs in Male’ north of Viyafaariveringe Mosque, as a way of reducing office expenses for civil society organisations in the congested capital.

Deputy Director General Mohamed Waheed said the government expected to begin construction next year.

The cabinet suggested in October that the government construct a building for NGOs with state funds.

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Minivan News responds to MNJA allegations of ‘irresponsible journalism’

The following is an English-language translation of a press release press release issued by the Maldives National Journalists Association (MNJA) on October 28 2010, in response to our coverage of the Vilu Reef ‘wedding’ video.

The verbatim translation of the filthy language used by a ‘celebrant’ in a symbolic wedding ceremony conducted on a Maldivian resort published by Minivan News is not the type of journalism that should be practised by a responsible newspaper. The publication of filthy language by anyone, in whatever language, falls outside the standards of professional journalism.

This organisation condemns the use of unacceptable language of low standards in any newspaper or website that can be read or accessed by children, adults and families. We would also like to take this opportunity to note that the translation published in Minivan News will damage Maldivian tourism and business.

SIM Ibrahim Mohamed
President of the Maldives National Journalist Association

Minivan News responds:

Minivan News heartily agrees that the Maldives National Journalists Association (MNJA) should be concerned about the filthy language used by a Vilu Reef staff member in the leaked video, in which paying tourists seeking to renew their wedding vows are mocked and degraded by up to 15 complicit resort staff.

However Minivan News feels such concern would be better voiced by the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), easily done as the two organisations are headed by the same individual, Sim Mohamed Ibrahim.

Minivan News is in fact surprised that MATI has yet to comment on an incident which has sparked worldwide concern about the humiliating and degrading treatment of guests on a resort, and hopes it has not adopted a head-in-the-sand approach to an issue of such national importance.

Furthermore, Minivan News believes that the duty of a ‘responsible’ news publication is to bring such sensitive issues to light, without fear or prejudice, holding big business to account when its behavior damages the Maldives’ cherished reputation for tourism excellence.

We sincerely hope that MNJA/MATI stops ‘shooting the messenger’ and uses its respect and political clout to ensure that such shameful behaviour does not happen again in the future.

Minivan News

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Banks and MMA to close for 10 days over Eid-al Adha holidays

Banks and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) will close for 10 days during Republic Day and the Eid-al Adha holidays, November 11-20.

The MMA said the decision was made in conjunction with banks, however it has raised the ire of the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI).

“When nine [public] holidays were observed last year, we opened on one day in the middle,” the MMA told Haveeru. “The procedure does not allow employees to fully utilise the holidays. Banks also said that a few customers get the service during the holidays.”

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