Category: News in Brief

British High Commission holding scholarship information session

The British High Commission and the British Council are hosting a seminar to answer questions about the Chevening Scholarship programme on April 7, 2011 (tonight) from 8:00-9:00pm in the Museum building on Medhuziyaaraih Magu.

This scheme is open to Maldivians wishing to begin studies in the UK from September 2011.

Chevening scholarships are prestigious awards that provide full grants for Maldivians to study at a UK institution of their choice, the High Commission said in a statement. The scholarship covers flights to the UK, course fees and all expenses associated with study, including accommodation and living costs.

The aim of the scheme is to enable current and future leaders to study in the UK and make a positive contribution to their home country after completing their studies. Students who want a Chevening Scholarship need to apply online before 30 April 2011.

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Updated: Saturn Watch back by popular demand

The Maldives Association for the Advancement of Science (MAAS) and Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) will hold a second viewing of Saturn on Thursday April 7 from 8pm onwards near the old stage east of the volleyball court nearby the Artificial Beach.

The first ‘Beauty Without Borders – Saturn Watch’ was held on Saturday, 2nd April 2011 as a start-off celebration for the Global Astronomy Month 2011 (GAM2011), MAAS said in a statement.

“Inspired by the night sky and its power to intrigue and bring people together, GAM2011 is an initiative of Astronomers Without Borders that brings new ideas, new opportunities and enthusiasts together worldwide to celebrate ‘One People, One Sky’,” MAAS said.

To celebrate this event of unity and curiosity in the Maldives, MAAS will be hosting a number of events during the month of April. The Saturn Watch rerun will be held on Thursday, April 7 from 8:00pm onwards at the old stage area east of the beach volley court near the artificial beach.

“Similar to the previous event, the public will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the ringed beauty through a telescope. During the event MAAS will give presentations about the planet Saturn and its moons,” said Ahid Rasheed, founder member of MAAS and AWB National Coordinator for Maldives.

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Thief banished for 27 years serving as DRP Maafaru councillor

A group of Shaviyani Maafaru islanders have lodged complaints at the Elections Commission (EC) and the Supreme Court claiming that an opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) candidate elected to island council had been sentenced 27-years banishment to Maafaru in 1977.

An islander told newspaper Haveeru that Councillor Ibahim Manik had changed his address from Machangoalhi Kishmireege in Male’ to Maafaru Abaage to become eligible and that a complaint at the EC before the election had been dismissed.

An EC official meanwhile explained that the documents proving Manik’s sentence had been submitted after the complaints deadline elapsed, adding that the EC had been unable to find evidence because of the changed address.

The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has a majority of seats in the Maafaru council.

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Addu City blackout lasts almost 24-hours

Electricity has been restored to the five interconnected islands of Addu City last night, almost 24-hours after damage to high-voltage cables caused a day-long blackout in the southernmost atoll.

Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq told Sun Online that he has urged citizens to seek damages and compensation – amounting to “millions of rufiyaa” – from the Southern Utilities Company, which provides electricity to the five islands through a centralised power grid.

Southern Utilities Company Chairman Ahmed Zareer explained that the cables had been replaced by late afternoon yesterday. Although the blackout started at around 6.45pm on Monday, electricity had come back on sporadically for short periods.

Local daily Haveeru meanwhile reported yesterday that the cries of children unable to sleep rang out through the islands while business owners feared an outbreak of burglary and looting. Schools were closed on Monday and many people complained they were unable to even use the shower.

A crowd of protesters reportedly gathered outside the Utility Company office in Maradhoo-Feydhoo, throwing stones and demanding the resignation of its board of directors.

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Parliament overrides presidential veto on capital island legislation

Parliament today voted through a bill on determining atoll capital islands for a second time after President Mohamed Nasheed had returned the legislation for reconsideration.

A motion proposed by opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ali Azim to pass the bill again without any changes received 39 votes in favour from the 68 MPs present and voting, the bare minimum required to override a presidential veto.

Under article 91(b), a bill returned for reconsideration and passed by a majority of total membership of parliament has to be “assented by the President and published in the government gazette.”

According to the bill, atoll capital islands listed in the appendix of the constitution when it was ratified on August 7, 2008 shall retain their status unless decided otherwise by a two-thirds majority of an atoll council and approved through a public referendum.

The legislation also lays out a number of steps to be completed before relocation could be considered by atoll councils.

Following the local council elections in February, disputes over atoll administrative centres in Shaviyani and Kaafu atolls led to a tense standoff between islanders and riot police.

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President reportedly announces second auditor general nominee

The serving internal auditor at the Maldives Ports Limited has been forwarded by President Mohamed Nasheed as a candidate for the post of auditor general in an attempt to fill a position that has remained vacant for over a year, according to news reports.

Haveeru has reported today that Niyaz Ibrahim is expected to be nominated to parliament for the position pending committee review after attempts in December to appoint the former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) President Ali Rasheed Umar were rejected. The decision led to allegations from the government that Rasheed Umar was the victim of a partisan plot to hinder the appointment.

Opposition politicians, who form a majority in the Majlis, claimed at the time that the vote against the appointment was related to ethical concerns over the candidate and called for greater consultation from the president on finding a nominee for the auditor general position.

The auditor general position has remained vacant since March 2010 when Ibrahim Naeem lost a parliamentary no-confidence motion by 43 votes to 28.

While the governing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted to retain Naeem in the role, opposition MPs and a number of independent members voted against him over allegations of corruption.

Naeem stood accused of corruption by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for using the government’s money to buy a tie and fund a visit Thulhaidhu in Baa Atoll.

Naeem claimed the charges were an attempt to discredit his office and prevent him from reclaiming the government’s money stored in overseas bank accounts.

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Cruising the Maldives by cargo-boat: Travelmag

While most visitors to the Maldives seek the pampered comfort of the resorts, travel writer Donna Richardson became one of the few independent travelers to island-hop to Gan via cargo vessel. She wrote about the experience for independent travel publication Travelmag.

“The blazing sun moves eastwards we enter Laamu atoll. This is going to be the government’s newest ‘zone’ developments. I am struck by the beauty of the islands, all uninhabited save the Six Senses resort Laamu which is due to open its doors this month. However, there is to be much change in this atoll over the coming years with the government’s new plans to extend transportation networks and extend into mid-market tourism. In fact there is talk of a three star ‘Costa Del Maldives’ of guest houses, restaurants and bars happening here to bring in hordes of backpackers and mid marketers, making the Maldives much more accessible in the near future.

“I made my way back to the cabin and slept through until we moored into Dhaandoo in the Huvadhoo atoll – our first port drop. The pink sky above the island illuminates the gleaming presidential yacht which is moored right next to us, flanked by two MNDF Coast Guard boats.

“Evidence of reclamation is evident on the sea front in this island which is in desperate need of housing. The interior betrays a curious mix of coral houses glimpsed through the jutting palm trees. It is clear that this island is quite poor in comparison with its neighbours. Women rise early to collect rain and sea water to boil and condensate so they can wash and cook during the day, while their men prepare for their days work on the fishing boats. Small dhonis lap in the waves and in the distance is an uninhabited picnic island in the distance.

“Fishing is the main income of the island, yet there are only three fishing vessels – so not everyone can be a fisherman. With limited agriculture and infrastructure there are only a few key jobs in the public sector for teachers and doctors and island councillors. There is a small school, a satellite hospital, which is more like a general practice and an island council office.

“Despite it being a Wednesday men are hanging around and doing nothing (known as holhuashi) swinging in undolis (giant handwoven swings) beneath the shady trees lining the island. Surprisingly these are not layabouts but a mix of learned men including teachers and politicians as they sit in silent protest to the presidential visit on the nearby islands, this being an opposition island.”

Read more

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Laamu Atoll Council goes to court to reclaim assets

Laamu Atoll Council has filed a case in the Civil Court against the government in a bid to reclaim the council’s assets, after it was requested by the National Office to hand over the assets to other authorities.

President of the Council Ibrahim Naseer told Haveeru that the council had not yet handed over the assets,

“The Decentralisation Act stipulates that the assets, formerly under the Atoll Office, would be transferred to the council,” he claimed.

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Maldives climbs to fourth in “Seven Wonders” competition

The Maldives has climbed to fourth place in a competition to be named as one of a “New Seven Wonders of Nature” after having fallen down the rankings in January this year.

The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) said it had been working at international travel shows and other events to try and boost its standing in the competition, whose finalists are expected to be announced on November 11 this year by Switzerland-based organiser New Open World Corporation, according to Haveeru.

Along with the Maldives, 28 destinations are competing within the competition, which organisers claim is 90 percent based on international voting and 10 percent on responses from within the host nations themselves.

Back in January, the MTPB had said that the country had fallen to fifth place in the competition after having been previously placed third.

According to the event organisers, the “New Seven Wonders” programme is operated under two distinct arms as both a Foundation and a commercial operation.

Along with the not-for-profit New7Wonders Foundation, the group has claimed to have transferred its commercial operations to its licensing group, New Open World Corporation, which it has said is needed to cover costs.

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