Author: Minivan News

Agreement signed for Fuvahmulah electricity project

Southern Utilities Company signed an agreement with India’s Integrity Projects Limited on Thursday to produce electricity for Gnaviyani Fuvahmulah by burning waste at high temperatures.

Managing Director Hussein Shahid told newspaper Haveeru that preparations were underway to begin the project in November.

In July, the utility company for the South Province announced a bio-mass electricity project as well as a US$40 million project with India’s Suzlon company to install wind turbines in Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll.

Further, Southern Utilities Company also plans to build a hydro-power plant in collaboration with the UNDP and a Belgian company.

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Civil court rejects opposition case against airport development fee

The Civil Court has rejected a lawsuit filed today by the opposition coalition against the planned US$25 airport development fee to be charged by Indian infrastructure giant GMR, which recently won the bid to redevelop Male’ International Airport.

The coalition argue that any new tax must be approved by parliament, as per the constitution. However the Civil court dismissed the lawsuit noting that the plan had not yet been implemented.

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High demand sparks resurgence in dollar shortage

Blackmarket rates have risen and banks have imposed stricter trade limits on dollars as the country’s currency shortage resurfaces, reports Haveeru.

The rufiya is pegged to the dollar at Rf12.85, however banks regularly refuse to exchange and limit trade transactions in dollars to US$500 at a time. This has now fallen to US$200, Haveeru reports.

Companies that need to buy US dollars with local currency are compelled to use the blackmarket, which is currently at around Rf13.50-13.35 to the dollar. It reached Rf14.50 at the height of the shortage last year.

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Parliament approves HRCM president, fails VP nominee

Parliament today voted unanimously to approve Mariyam Azra as the President of the Maldives Human Rights Commission (HRCM), more than a month after the former commission member was nominated to the post.

While 54 MPs voted in favour of the nomination, President Mohamed Nasheed’s nominee to the post of HRCM Vice-President, Jeehan Mahmoud, received 22 votes in favour and 32 against.

Last month, former HRCM President Ahmed Saleem condemned parliament’s failure to approve a president and vice-president as “unforgivable.”

“What the Majlis has done to HRCM is unforgivable, and it’s all because HRCM and human rights are not as important to the Majlis as taking their leave,” he said.

Meanwhile, a coalition of local NGOs echoed Saleem’s concerns, pointing out that the non-appointment of a president and vice-president was “an immense obstacle to the effective functioning of the commission.”

According to article nine of the HRCM Act, the president of the commission holds the chair for meetings.

During the final sitting of the last session of parliament, some MPs objected to having two women as president and vice-president of the commission.

DRP Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed said that while he considered the people appointed for HRCM as capable, the role of President and Vice President “should include a male.”

“Even if you look at it from a religious perspective or from the perspective of good policy, there should be a male in either post,’’ he said.

Independent MP for Kudahuvadhoo, Ahmed Amir, said it was “against human rights” to have two females in the roles of President and Vice President.

“It is the woman who calls for equality most of the time,’’ said Amir.

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Inland Revenue to recover unpaid debts

The newly instituted Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has undertaken efforts to recover debts and monies owed to the government by various parties.

Commissioner General of Taxation Yazeed Mohamed told newspaper Haveeru that the debts include fees, royalties and rent from 45 different sectors.

While MIRA was working with relevant government authorities to recover the debts, Yazeed said “necessary measures” would be taken from 2011 onward if dialogue and other procedures fail.

The Commissioner General did not reveal the amount being sought by the government.

However, an audit report of the former Department of Inland Revenue released in October 2009 revealed that it had failed to collect over Rf1.1 billion (US$85.6 million) in unpaid taxes, fines and resort rent.

“As a result of the department’s inadequate efforts to collect unpaid taxes, as of 31 July 2009, the government has not received Rf117 million (US$9.1 million) in unpaid taxes and fines and none of these monies has been received as of 30 September 2009,” it reads.

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‘New7Wonders’ campaign launched

A national campaign to promote the Maldives for the New7Wonders of Nature launched at the Male’ International Airport yesterday, reports MNBC One.

As part of the campaign, conducted by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) in collaboration with resorts and the Maldives Airports Company, two voting stations were set up at the airport.

According to MTPB, leaflets and brochures about the Maldives as well as voting forms will now be available from the airport.

The campaign will continue for the next six months.

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TMA crew in sick leave protest

Ten employees of Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) went on strike on Sunday in protest against the dismissal of a colleague, reports Haveeru.

Haveeru spoke to an anonymous crew member who claimed that the dismissed employee was sacked after failing to provide a urine sample.

Operations Director Ahmed Latheef told Haveeru that some employees were on ‘sick leave’, and that any further comment was internal business. 17 scheduled flights were in operation Sunday.

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Nasheed attends Commonweath Games opening ceremony

President Mohamed Nasheed has attended the Commonwealth Games 2010 Opening Ceremony in India, along with Britain’s Prince Charles, Indian President Pratibha Patil, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Other foreign dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony included New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Monac’s Prince Albert II and Nauru President Marcus Stephen.

More than 30 athletes from the Maldives will be competing across six different sports.

Nasheed met with the athletes and encouraged all participants to “represent the country with pride.”

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President meets India’s national security advisor

President Mohamed Nasheed has met India’s National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, to discuss the potential for further security cooperation.

During the discussion Menon promised India’s full cooperation to the Maldives in hosting the next SAARC summit, to take place in the Maldives next year.

President Nasheed thanked the government of India for the bilateral assistance provided to the Maldives by the Indian government.

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