Category: News in Brief

Centara Resorts and Hotels plans third Maldives property

Hospitality group Centara has announced plans to open its third Maldivian resort during the second half of 2014 in Lhaviyani Atoll.

The property, which is currently in the design stages, is expected to house 110 rooms and will represent a US$36 million investment in the country, according to the company.

A management contract has been signed with a Maldivian enterprise called RPI Private Ltd to oversee the project.

Centara Resorts and Hotels Senior Vice President for Sales Chris Bailey said a third island property in the country would allow the company to diversify its offerings in the Indian Ocean.

“We believe that having a third Maldives resort, in a very different location amongst the Maldivian islands, and with a different style to the existing two resorts, will give us a very powerful marketing tool,” he said.

“Our marketing division for the Indian Ocean region has recently been strengthened, and we have great confidence in the region, and in our latest venture.”

The company presently operates the Centara Grand Island Resort in South Ari Atoll and is set to open the Centara RasFushi Resort and Spa later this month.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Fire breaks out at Sakeena Manzil property in Male’

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) firemen were called to the Sakeena Manzil building in Male’ earlier today (March 9) after a fire broke out at the property.

Local media reported there had been no injuries as a result of the fire, which had been extinguished by4:oopm today.

The MNDF were reported by local media to have geared up two ‘known’ activists of the government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with gas masks and oxygen tanks at one point, before leading them into the burned building.

The office had been used by PPM in previous instances, and had also been used by the former PPM deputy leader for his own personal business, local media reported.

According to Sun Online, the two PPM activists went inside the building to retrieve some ‘very important objects’, but it was not clear what those objects were.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Police arrest man on suspicion of assaulting Mariya Didi

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting Maldivian Democratic Party MP Mariya Ahmed Didi, a year after the alleged assault took place.

Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Hassan Haneef told local media that the man was arrested on 4 March 2013 in relation to the assault that took place on 7 February 2012.

According to local media, police have been investigating the videos of the unrest that followed the controversial change of power in February 2012.

The police have been criticised by various institutions for a failure to investigate several incidents that took place on February 7 and 8, 2012.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Keeping Nasheed Alive: Eurasia Review

India has a moral obligation to see that former President Mohammad Nasheed, who was arrested by Maldivian Commandos on March 5, 2013, in alleged response to a court order to face trial in a case pending against him, remains alive,” writes B. Raman for the Eurasia Review.

“Even though he might have been arrested ostensibly in pursuance of a court order, his arrest is a breach of faith on the part of the Waheed Government. He left the Indian High Commission, where he had taken sanctuary, in response to assurances regarding his safety and security.

India, which played a role in the negotiations that led to his leaving his safe sanctuary in the High Commission, is a guarantor of the assurances given by the Waheed Government regarding his safety and security.

India should immediately make it clear to former President Abdul Gayoom, who has allegedly been playing an active behind-the-scene role in advising the Government of Waheed, that it will hold him and Waheed personally and morally responsible for the safety and security of Nasheed and that should anything untoward happen to him while in custody India would act in the appropriate manner to ensure that solemn assurances given to India by the Government are not violated with impunity.

Read More.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MPs raise concern over “spy devices, toxic gas, poison” in parliament

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Abdulla Jabir has claimed that security forces have planted ‘spy devices’ throughout parliament, local media reported.

During today’s parliament session, Jabir claimed that ‘information’ had been received regarding the bugging and that security forces were not listening in to the conversations of MPs, a report in local media stated.

In response to Jabir’s allegations, Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid said that the matter is to be taken up as a “matter of serious concern”.

Local media reported that immediately after Jabir’s claim, Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed then claimed that he had information that meals provided in parliament were laced with drugs.

“Various effects were felt even yesterday after consuming some of the food,” Rasheed was quoted as saying in local newspaper Haveeru.

A further claim was then made by Milandhoo constituency MP Ali Riyaz, who said that he had received more information that toxic gas would be put into the air-conditioning in parliament to poison the members.

Shahid assured the MPs that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Rubbish fire smoke engulfs school, 50 students forced to seek medical attention

Children from Imaduddin School in Male’ were given emergency treatment today after they reported dizziness and nausea caused by smoke rising from a nearby rubbish dump.

Local media reported that smoke began to rise around 10:30am today (March 6), causing 50 students to seek medical care. A teacher was also taken to hospital after her health suddenly deteriorated.

Imaduddin School Principal Ibrahim Asif Rasheed told local media that the school has to cancel certain lessons when the wind is strong and facing in a certain direction.

According to the principal, the school was engulfed by smoke in the morning and that parents had been requested to collect their children who were suffering from the smoke.

After contacting the meteorological centre to clarify weather conditions for the next few days, Rasheed told local media that lessons will commence tomorrow.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Oil transport vehicle set on fire

An oil transport vehicle was set on fire at 2:30am this morning while parked inside the Hakatha Petrol Shed near the Henveyru swimming track.

Local media reported that there had been no reported injuries during the incident, which was attended by police and military personnel who extinguished the fire.

Police told local media that a man was arrested for obstructing police duty whilst attending the fire.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MDA reaches 10,000 members

Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has announced that it has reached 10,000 members, meaning it will be now recognised as an official party under the new political parties’ bill.

The recently-formed party, led by Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam, submitted 4,900 membership forms yesterday (March 6) – the same day as parliament passed the political parties bill – bringing the party’s total membership over 10,000.

Elections Commission President Fuad Thaufeeg told local media that a further 1,000 were submitted on February 13, 536 on February 24 and 618 forms on February 25.

In addition to the pending forms, MDA has 3,354 official registered members, local media reported.

The political parties’ bill requires parties to have a minimum 10,000 members before they will be official recognised.

The same bill was passed by parliament in December 2012, however President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik returned the bill when it was presented to him to be ratified.

During Tuesday’s (March 5) session, the bill was again passed with 60 out of the 67 members present voting in favour of the bill.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Raajje TV reporter ‘Aswad’ to undergo major surgery

Ibrahim Waheed ‘Aswad’ will undergo major surgery Wednesday (March 6) to correct a maxillary fracture (i.e. broken jawbone) and other minor surgeries would follow as needed Dr KT Iraivan, Assistant General Manager of Operations at Lanka Hospital told local media.

Additionally, Dr Iraivan stated that the internal bleeding in Waheed’s right eye is causing his vision to deteriorate, according to local media.

“He’s on injections and his vision is gradually improving,” Dr Iraivan said to Haveeru.

Waheed will remain in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit. He appears to have normal brain function.

Minivan News understands that as of February 26 Waheed was still unconscious but his condition had been stabilised. He is moving his eyes and responding to people in the room, but not yet speaking.

Waheed, a senior reporter for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-aligned television station, was attacked with an iron bar while riding on a motorcycle near the artificial beach area. He was on his way to see two Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) journalists who were admitted to hospital after being attacked.

Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz in a tweet informed the public that one person was arrested in connection with the attack, which he described as a murder attempt.

Maldivian journalists took to the streets of Male’ to protests against the recent attacks, joining international organisations who have also condemned the violence.

The attack on Waheed was the most serious incident of violence against a journalist in the Maldives since July 2012, when a group of alleged Islamic radicals slashed the throat of blogger Hilath Rasheed. Rasheed, who had been campaigning for religious tolerance, narrowly survived and has since fled the country.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)