Category: Politics

A bill on establishing a Maldives Broadcasting Corporation proposed by Kulhudufushi South MP Mohamed Nasheed was sent to a seven-member ad hoc committee for further review with unanimous consent today.

Presenting the bill, Nasheed, former information minister, said the purpose of the bill was to bring Television Maldives (TVM) and Voice of Maldives (VoM) under one parent company and establish a legal framework for a free and independent state media.

“[The objective is] to establish a public service broadcaster that originates from the people, serves the people, is controlled by the people, run with the people’s money, and ultimately is accountable to the people,” he said.

He added the legislation will ensure that coverage is fair and balanced and free from undue influence from the government, political parties or entrepreneurs.

It specifies how the company will be formed, its objectives, its organisational structure, essential characteristics as a public service broadcaster, public aims, the role of the director’s board, how members should be appointed and the role of parliament.

Nasheed said he first submitted the bill under the former government but parliament at the time did not manage to pass it.

“I’ve drafted this bill in compliance with the standards set by an international organisation that helps establish and develop public service broadcasting in the Asia Pacific region,” he said. “It is commonly known as AIBD.”

He added the legislation incorporated standards set by international press freedom organisation Article 19.

Parliamentary approval

Most MPs commended and praised Nasheed for the well-drafted legislation.

Opposition MPs and some independents accused the government of using state media to “spread propaganda” and stressed the importance of ensuring editorial independence.

“While such an important bill is being debated on the Maldives broadcasting channels that reach the largest number of people, it is regrettable that Television Maldives cut off Majlis live after the questions to the minister,” said Thohdhoo MP Ali Waheed of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

He added that it underlined the importance of passing the legislation as soon as possible.

MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) objected to parliament appointing the board of directr’s and making them directly answerable to parliament.

Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim said giving authority over the corporation to parliament would not ensure that it was free of political influence.

Dhidhoo MP Ahmed Sameer said politicians were not on the board of the public broadcasting service of the United States.

Sameer questioned the rationale behind allowing parliament to appoint members to the board of directors. “Why is it that STELCO’s board is not appointed by [parliament]? Or STO’s board?” he said.

Inguraidhoo MP Hamdhoon Hameed of the DRP pointed out that the arts and culture policy of the MDP manifesto stated that a board approved by parliament should oversee state media.

Thulhaadhoo MP Nazim Rashad, an independent, proposed allowing the government to nominate members for the board to be approved by parliament.

Propaganda

Some opposition MPs said people no longer watched TVM because it was biased in favour of the ruling party.

Mulaku MP Abdullah Yamin of the People’s Alliance said Rf200,000 (US$16,000) a month was being spent from “the people’s money” for a show called “Hope and Reality” to sell the government’s policies.

Thulusdhoo MP Rozaina Adam said TVM recently recorded interviews with her, DRP MP Ahmed Nihan and MDP MP Mohamed Mustafa and omitted hers in favour of balance, but TVM’s “Raaje Miadhu” (Maldives Today) programme had just one DRP member flanked by two or three MDP members every night.

Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed said MPs of the DRP-PA coalition met with TVM officials and employees the night before and they expressed support for the bill.

Ilham said he expected them to oppose the legislation. “But what we saw was completely different. They said we want, want, want to work independently.”

Henveiru South MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor of the MDP said the bill was submitted “prematurely” as there should be legislation to establish laws and guidelines for broadcasting.

Vaikaradhoo MP Ali Arif, an independent, proposed an amendment to section nine(c), which states that providing a platform for a plurality of views was among the public aims of the company.

Arif proposed adding the phrase “political views” to the clause.

Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Muttalib proposed amendments to include programmes that disseminated Islam and prohibit those that were un-Islamic.

He proposed abolishing section nine(c) as it could lead to pluralism and different opinions in the country.

Eydhafushi MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem seconded the amendments.

Responding to MPs concerns after the debate, Nasheed said allowing parliament to appoint members would prevent one political party from dictating to or dominating the board as parliamentary decisions were made following public debate and negotiation.

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Independent institutions are “making excuses” to avoid lowering salaries and allowances of its employees despite agreeing that economic circumstances warranted reducing expenditure, Ahmed Assad, state minister of finance, said today.

Addressing press, Assad said it would not be too hard for institutions to find legal reasons for avoiding the pay cuts.

At a meeting at the president’s office yesterday, the heads of independent institutions informed the president of legal issues that might arise in reducing salaries.

“If you want to find an excuse, there won’t be anywhere that you can’t find it. They might say, we have made contracts with people,” said Assad. “But, in truth, contracts are made with everyone, regardless of what kind of job he is in.

“A contract does not necessarily have to be written. A verbal contract is legally accepted as a contract as well. So they can continue giving excuses to any degree. That is not really the issue.”

Speaking to Minivan News yesterday, Fuad Thaufeeq, president of the Elections Commission, said although the Civil Service Act empowered the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to reduce civil servants’ salaries, said Fuad, there was no such law for independent institutions.

“In fact, the Employment Act says it can’t be done,” he said. “That is our main concern.”

Muaviz Rasheed, the vice-president of the Anti-Corruption Commission, said the commission drew up contracts with its employees for five years and did not anticipate having to reduce salaries so soon.

Discriminatory pay

Assad said it was worth noting that civil servants and their counterparts in various commissions who do the same work do not get the same pay.

“My question is while a civil servant hired by the Civil Service Commission, a janitor, gets Rf4,000 (US$311) with Rf3,100 (US$241) salary and Rf1,000 (US$77) service allowance, I don’t know on what principle a worker at some commission should get Rf11,750 (US$914),” he said.

He added he was not referring to the pay of technical staff such as commission members.

“What is the difference between an administrative employee who works at customs and an administrative employee at parliament or at the president’s office or some place called public works?” he asked.

Regardless of the job title or the work place, he continued, all the employees did the same type of work and were paid out of the government’s budget.

The Employment Act states that there should not be any difference in pay for people who do the same work, he said.

Finance Minister Ali Hashim said the ministry will have meetings with all independent institutions individually next week.

“First of all, some independent institutions questioned whether there were special economic circumstances or not,” he said, adding he was happy to learn that they have accepted it now.

Hashim said the ministry preferred that the institutions propose the cuts themselves after reviewing their budgets.

Consensus

Assad said the finance ministry was very glad that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was giving up 20 per cent from his monthly state benefits.

A bill on privileges and protection for former presidents that stipulates Rf75,000 (US$6,000) in monthly allowance and Rf50,000 (US$4,000) in housing allowance was passed by parliament this week.

Gayoom announced yesterday that he would take a cut of 20 per cent from both allowances.

“This means that the leader of the opposition party has accepted the circumstances have arisen,” said Assad.

Further, he continued, the Civil Service Commission had also accepted that the country’s economic situation was exceptional.

“So now we have accepted this from all sides,” he said. “So why are you [independent institutions] hesitating?”

Since there was no longer any doubt, the question that remained was determining the percentage of reductions to be made, he said.

The government introduced a raft of austerity measures in August, such as pay cuts of up to 20 per cent for political appointees and cutting back on foreign travel, to alleviate the budget deficit.

Following deliberations at the cabinet, the government also requested the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reduce salaries of civil servants. Pay cuts of up to 20 per cent for civil servants came into effect this month.

The CSC agreed to the pay cuts on the condition that independent institutions enforced a similar reduction for its employees.

Fuad said CSC President Dr Mohamed Latheef mentioned the condition at the meeting.

“We want to make pay cuts as well to cooperate with the government, but we want to do it under the law,” said Fuad. “We cannot take these measures without a law for it.”

Hashim said the ministry has revised its forecast of Rf7 billion (US$544 million) of income this year to Rf5.8 billion (US$451 million).

“As you know, import of goods to the country is falling and the government income from it will be lower,” he said. “And taxes from tourism, or lease rent, are also lower.”

The salary reduction for civil servants will be in place until the government’s revenue exceeds Rf7 billion.

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A team of independent experts has conducted a capacity assessment on the Human Rights Commission Maldives (HRCM), recommending the institution remove the proviso in its regulations which stipulates all members must be Muslim.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Chris Sidoti from the Asia Pacific Forum said he hoped the recommendation would not be overplayed as the constitution already mandated that only Muslims can be citizens of the Maldives.

The team of four, including delegates from UNDP and the office of the high commissioner for human rights in Geneva, made two further recommendations after shadowing the HRCM for the past two weeks.

They advised the commission to open up the nomination of its members to the public and non-governmental institutions. At present, names are proposed by the president and approved by parliament.

A third recommendation involved changing the commission’s regulations to allow for greater engagement at an international level.

HRCM President Ahmed Saleem said, “The recommendations in the draft are very valid and well thought out.”

Sidoti said if all three recommendations were fulfilled, the HRCM would receive international accreditation, allowing it to participate fully in all human rights forums.

He added the changes would improve the Maldives’ chances of getting elected to the UN Human Rights Council.

Sidoti praised the commission’s efforts over the past three years, which have seen the institution grow from four employees to around fifty.

“Within such a rapidly changing climate and despite the geography of the country and lack of higher education, these commissioners have produced a very good organisation with very good staff,” he said.

On the financial constraints currently faced by the HRCM, Sidoti said that while the commission was not legally obliged to comply with the government’s request, he was positive the institution would want to “contribute as much as anyone”.

The ministry of finance has requested the HRCM impose pay cuts for all employees in line with its cost-cutting measures. This month all civil servants had their salaries reduced by up to 20 per cent, while political appointees had their reduced in September.

But at a meeting with President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday, the heads of six independent institutions said there was no specific law which empowered them to reduce the salaries of their employees.

The human rights experts met with the home affairs committee yesterday, requesting their assistance in implementing recommendations, said Independent MP for Kulhudhufushi South Mohamed Nasheed, chairman of the committee.

The question of the HRCM’s financial independence was raised at the meeting, he said, adding once parliament had approved the commission’s budget, the government’s only responsibility was to “write the cheque”.

“They wanted us to bring amendments to reflect full financial independence,” he said.

Nasheed said MPs would now complete a report and submit it to the floor for approval. Further, once parliament adopted the new rules of procedure, a human rights committee would be established, providing a platform for debate on the HRCM’s findings.

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British MPs from the Conservative Party pleaded the case of the Maldives at the House of Commons yesterday, urging the UK government to dig deep into its pockets to help the country out if its financial quagmire.

Addressing Ivan Lewis, the British state minister at the foreign and commonwealth office, MP David Amess said the UK Department for International Development (DFID) – which aims to reduce overseas poverty through aid – had offered relatively little support to the fledgling democracy.

The MP noted that since 2005, DFID had not provided aid to the Maldives, which as a lower-middle income country was not considered a priority. Further, bilateral aid to the Maldives from other UK official sources totalled £103,000, he said.

“Although it is not of the world’s poorest countries, it is one of the lowest lying and as such is one of those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” said Amess, adding rising sea levels threatened livelihoods, infrastructure, food security and health.

In 2007, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted rising sea levels of up to 58cm would submerge many of the country’s 1,192 islands by the end of the century.

“Two-thirds of the country disappeared momentarily into the Indian Ocean and when the sea withdrew, it took 62 per cent of the country’s gross national product with it,” said Amess.

“Electricity, communications and freshwater supplies on many islands were destroyed by salt water. Such disaster scenarios have the potential to multiply exponentially as a result of climate change and rising sea levels.”

Adaptation and mitigation

Amess said the Maldives required financial assistance to fund adaptation and mitigation strategies as well as technology development and capacity building. The cost of the country’s adaptation programme adopted in 2007 is an estimated US$100 million, he said.

Referring to President Mohamed Nasheed’s announcement to make the country carbon neutral within a decade, he recommended the British government rewarded nations, which had shown clear leadership in climate change matters.

In March, Nasheed unveiled plans to make the Maldives the first carbon neutral country in the world by switching to renewable energy and offsetting carbon emissions. Amess said the decision presented British companies with a wealth of business opportunities.

Next up was MP Richard Spring, who spoke to the state minister about the Maldives’ difficult fiscal position. Relative to its size, he said, the country had a large budget deficit which could be easily addressed by DFID.

“This is the youngest democracy in the world and in the Commonwealth, and we owe a great deal to it,” said Spring.

A third MP, Gary Streeter, pointed out that aside from being a democracy, the Maldives was also a Muslim country. “If its government and democracy were allowed to fail, it would send a bad signal to the wider world and…Britain ought to ensure that it succeeds,” he said.

The Maldives government has close ties to the British Conservative Party, which helped the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) with campaign advice, training and resources ahead of the presidential election last year.

Earlier this week, President Mohamed Nasheed spoke at the Conservative Party’s annual conference, underscoring their shared centre-right ideology.

“Genuine”

Following the MPs’ impassioned plea, the state minister said the British government was committed to helping the Maldives through a transitional moment in its history.

Lewis said he welcomed Amess’s “genuine” interest in the Indian Ocean Archipelago. “I hope that he [Amess] continues to enjoy many a holiday in what is a beautiful country,” he said.

At the height of the British MPs’ expenses scandal in May, the British newspaper, The Independent on Sunday revealed that MPs were travelling on hundreds of trips a year at the taxpayer’s expense.

While the trips did not break any rules, the paper described some, such as junkets to the Maldives, as “questionable”.

Lewis said that while the British government recognised the Maldives’ financial difficulties, it was unable to give preferential treatment and the country would be subject to the same criteria for aid as all others.

He added, however, that the government had advised the Maldives to approach international financial organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and provided technical assistance with its application.

Earlier this year the government had provided a fiscal policy advisor to help the Maldives in its negotiations with these institutions, he said.

As a board member of the IMF, he continued, the government would ensure the necessary resources are contributed for economic stability and development in the Maldives.

“We will use our influence with the IMF to get the right outcome, providing that the bidding process and the application meet the necessary business standards,” said Lewis.

He further advised the Maldives seek financial assistance from the UN framework convention on climate change adaptation fund due to become operational in early 2010.

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Whenever vacation time swings around, Maldivians always face the same dilemma: where to travel? Those who dream of seeing the Ganduvaru, the 16th century palace in Haa Alif Utheemu, the northernmost atoll, or the famous beaches of Fuamulah in the south or even Thohdhoo’s watermelon and chilli farms, soon give up when faced with the impossible task of finding cheap transportation.

Islanders who travel to Male’ for medical assistance and trade purposes have to wait weeks before they find a boat. Hiring a dhoni (traditional boat) is well beyond the means of the average Maldivian. And so, for many years we have resigned ourselves to the notion that it was always going to be impossible to have a cheap transport system in a country that is 99 per cent water.

But, the impossible is slowly becoming the possible.

Sealocked no more

The 28,000 people who live in Thaa and Laamu atoll are the first beneficiaries of the pledge made by the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to provide a nationwide transport system. Maldives Dhoni Services (MDS) signed a contract in August to provide a ferry service to the South Central province, which has been operational for just over a month.

“It is easy and cheap to travel now,” says Asma Raamiz, 37, a housewife in Laamu Fonadhoo. Comparing prices, she says it now costs Rf10 (US$1) instead of Rf50 (US$4) or even Rf500 (US$40) to travel to nearby islands Maamendhoo and Hithadhoo. Asma delights in the idea that islanders from the atoll can travel to Fonadhoo to watch the Women’s National Volleyball Championship being held on the island.

Mohamed Ali, 37, is a carpenter and businessman in Thaa atoll Kinbidhoo. “It’s my wife who’s going crazy,” he chortles. “She now goes to other islands to visit her friends all the time.” Since the ferry service began, he tells me, business has been booming with visitors from other islands buying items from his shop. Although a staple of the Maldivian diet, chillies were not available in Kinbidhoo before. Mohamed says chillies are now brought over from Kadhoodhoo and Veymandhoo.

But, says Ali Moosa Fulhu, the chief engineer for both atolls, the service is still in need of some tweaking. “I’m obliged to spent the night on some islands because of the way the ferry service is scheduled.” Nevertheless, he concedes, he can now travel about more easily for his work.

Full steam ahead

Mohamed Naasih, general manager of MDS, acknowledges there is still plenty of scope for improvement. “We’ve just started the service,” he says, adding changes will be made in accordance with islanders’ needs.

All ferry schedules are forwarded to the transport ministry for approval before being implemented. Maizan Adam Manik, the state minister for transport, says that the ministry plans to synchronise timings with institutions such as schools and hospitals. The aim is to enable ordinary citizens to disembark, have access to services and return to their islands with ease.

“We want to set islanders free from being imprisoned on their islands and allow them to have services without any hindrance,” says Maizan. He believes entrepreneurship and trade will flourish once a number of essential bills are passed. “The fruits of this transport network will be fully felt when the necessary support structure is in place,” he says, citing the land reform and housing bills as an example. “We hope MPs will process bills that will have a direct impact on citizens’ lives,” he says. Criticising the government, he adds, can continue after that.

Citizens and government

The government has now signed contracts with more parties to provide transport to four provinces. The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has just signed to establish a network in the Mid-North Province. The service is to be launched in early December and will operate initially on four days of the week, says Adam Zaki, manager of MTCC. “Our priority is to make life easier for the islander, so a person living in Kaafu Dhifushi will be able to come to Male’, go to Guraidhoo and return to his island on the same day,” he says.

The president, who is visiting the South Central Province, will be buying tickets to travel by ferry today. “He expressed happiness that so many citizens are using the service and numbers were increasing day by day,” said Mohamed Zuhair, president’s office press secretary. “The president believes the exchange of trade, services and goods will positively impact the economy.” At an MDP rally last week, Nasheed said people were limited as their minds were not allowed to wander beyond the shores of their islands. Once the nationwide network is established, he said, Maldivians will be able to travel freely in their own country.

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Dear Editor,

A lot has been happening this year since this government came into power to address violence against women and children, in parliament and in the administration and in the community. We have seen the growth of various pressure groups in the country to support the cause of the abused in this country. Bills have been submitted to parliament to address the abuse against children and the violence that we see in our streets. The new hotline for children introduced by this government is a huge step forwards as the dynamics of being in small tight communities that we live militate against the protection and trust of those who seek support.

Where things are not moving is the judiciary and therein lies the heart of the problem. Perhaps the judges lack education and appropriate training. Perhaps they are indifferent to the plight of our women and children who come to them seeking justice. Perhaps the judgements they have been making against our children and women in courts are grounded in their personal belief systems.

What we know is that the current systems in place for women to seek divorce and for women and children to seek protection from domestic violence and to seek justice for the trauma of violation and violence is inadequate and needs attention urgently.

We walk on egg shells around this topic just as we do in our abusive relationships. I believe it’s time now to start a national debate on this matter. Look with truth and courage at the structures, systems, customs, beliefs and practices that dishonour women and our children in our society.

We need to qualify and quantify the spiritual, financial, emotional and social cost to those who have suffered violence and been violated in our families and in our communities. We need to set up witness protection systems, safety nets, safe houses and ensure investigations into these matters are conducted with integrity and a high degree of safety. As we need legislature that protects women and children from domestic violence.

I believe we have come to a critical stage in our new democracy where we are not just being challenged by the forces that oppressed us for thirty long years but also by forces that seek to oppress our women and children and impose on us cultural norms alien to our society in the name of Islam.

We must raise our voices collectively and close ranks against these forces if we are to assure our daughters of a future which honours women and children in the modern Islamic state that we aspire the Maldives to be.

Regards,

Shafeea

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Dear Editors,

I wish to point out some serious factual errors in the article “The Paateys: Heroin Addiction in the Maldives” dated January 13, 2005

“After your first few uses of Brown Sugar, the body will builds up a tolerance to the drug, which means you need to take more and more to get the same high you did on your first go” = not everybody necessarily develops a tolerance.

“If you voluntarily go to the Narcotics Control Board and report that you have a problem you won’t go to jail, but you’ll be put under house arrest until a place is available at the Maldives’ only rehab clinic and there you will be held for up to a year.” = volunteer cases are handled with top priority and they are sent almost on the same day as they come in. Usually the delay is on the volunteer’s part or the family’s wish, for the volunteer to spend a day or two getting ready for the trip.

And in the case that there is no space for a volunteer in the rehab center, which I haven’t come across, quiet honestly, I don’t see the reason why that person should be put under house arrest and hopefully you are aware of the fact that NNCB (previously NCB) has no such authority to put people under house arrest!

The other factor is that, people rarely stay in the rehab for a year. They are usually out in 6 months or so. The length depends on the progress of the client.

“The only rehabilitation centre in the Maldives has been described as more of a jail than a rehab centre.” = I wonder whether you actually talked to people who have been to both the Jail and the Rehab? Only such a person could tell you the differences.

“Drugs councillors are usually recruited between the ages of 17-20 and many are school drop-outs. They are approached by the Narcotics Control Board, who, after sending them on a counselling crash-course for 6 months, will let them loose on the patients. I don’t see how you can properly train a drug-addiction councillor in six months, especially if they are dealing with serious cases of addiction” said the drugs councillor.

= When recruiting counsellor’s for NCB, the position is advertised in the newspapers. It is clearly stated that they should have had at least C grade passes in at least 2 O/level subjects, and a pass in Dhivehi and Islam (minimum D). Is that what you call school drop outs?

I was one of the first five counsellors recruited to be trained as a drug counsellor and I had 4 A/level passes at that time. I dare you to name one person who is currently employed by NNCB and who is a counsellor. Of course I don’t mean for you to include a couple of counsellors who, finished their Rehab term and because of their good behaviour and commitment to the on going treatment and their interest in the field of counselling were given chances, Yes these kids were school dropouts, they were also “drug addicts”, but NCB takes the initiatives to give these kids a second chance to be productive citizens. It would be nice for you to appreciate that too.

And yeah the “crash course” yeah, initially they do undergo, a 6 month course but you forgot to mention the training follow-ups. they are sent to the nearby regions for further training courses, namely to Malaysia, Singapore, India and Sri Lanka and New York.

Training to become a counsellor takes a lot of time and studies. perhaps you are mistaking the trainee counsellors for the counsellors? NCB only gives the job of a counsellor for degree holders. I only got that job title after I finished my first degree. The other relevant designations are , counsellor trainee, assistant counsellor gr1, gr2, and counsellor gr1, and gr2. So next time, please don’t choose to “diss” on the people who are
trying hard to get something done!

The care available to those who are able to get a place at the rehab centre is also far from sophisticated. The ‘treatment’ is to go ‘cold turkey’, which essentially means locking a patient in a room without access to any drugs and where the patient is unable to commit suicide. = Clients are never locked up. True, when we didn’t have a detoxification center (which you have not mentioned in your article), clients were only given mild pain killers and other relevant medication.

I am just wondering whether you are even aware of the existence of a Detoxification center? Are you aware that NCB has had its own psychiatrist (not counting the frequent visits from Dr. Eswaran – the IGMH psychiatrist). NCB also has its own clinical psychologist. There are four counsellors with bachelors degrees (two currently studying for masters degrees), two assistant counsellors with diplomas, two trained from the famous Daytop in New York and others trained from Pengasih/Malaysia and four from Pertapis /Singapore. A lot of them had undergone training in TTK hospital in India, and from NIMHANS/ Bangalore, India and the rest from countless little training programs.

It is always disheartening for me to see, us the people who work in the field, constantly blamed for everything under the sun.

You have mentioned a lot of good stuff in your article such as the social problems. But a good article gets bad because of factual errors in it.

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President Mohamed Nasheed gave an impassioned speech at the UN summit on climate change at New York yesterday, urging international action against global warming rather than just empty pledges.

The president, who followed US President Barack Obama in speaking order, said from his observations, once the dust of the rhetoric had settled at climate change conferences, “sympathy fades, indignation cools, and the world carries on as before.”

“We in the Maldives desperately want to believe that one day our words will have an effect, and so we continue to shout them even though, deep down, we know that you are not really listening,” he said.

Nasheed said developed countries must acknowledge their historic responsibility for global warming and accept emission reduction targets consistent with an average temperature increase below 1.5 degrees celsius.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said if climate change continued unchecked, global temperatures would rise by up to 6.4 degrees celsius within a century, leading to frequent cyclones, heat waves and heavy rains.

World leaders convene at the Danish capital in December to hammer out a successor to the Kyoto Protocol in what is widely perceived as an eleventh hour attempt at keeping the worst consequences of climate change at bay.

Responsibility

Despite several high-level meetings so far this year, negotiations have stalled between the developed and developing world. While countries such as India and China argue the onus of curbing emissions is on rich, industrialised nations, the latter are loth to commit.

Speaking yesterday, Nasheed said developing countries must play their part under the “principle of common but differentiated responsibility”. The transfer of technological know-how and finance from rich nations to poor was further essential in achieving global cuts to emissions.

“I would argue that the threat posed by climate change is now so acute, the science so clear, the solution so apparent, and the cost-benefit analysis of action and inaction so alarming, that such horse-trading and brinkmanship must be left in the past,” he said.

Failure to reach broad agreement in Copenhagen would be morally inexcusable, economically short-sighted and politically unwise
Ban Ki-Moon
UN Secretary-General

Addressing members yesterday, both the US and China expressed similar commitment to cutting emissions. Obama said while developed countries such as the US were responsible for taking the lead on climate change action, the developing world must also cooperate.

Further, the global recession should not be used as an excuse for complacency. “Unease is no excuse for inaction…Each of us must do what we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet, and we must do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change.”

Likewise Chinese President Hu Jintao said his country was committed to tackling climate change.

“We will endeavor to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level,” he said. “Second, we will vigorously develop renewable energy and nuclear energy. We will endeavor to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 15 percent by 2020.”

Time to act

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who opened up the meeting stressed the urgency of tackling climate change, which if unchecked would result in the Arctic being ice-free by 2030.

He said he was moved by the eloquence of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the impact that climate change will have on their future existence.

Yesterday, AOSIS unanimously passed Nasheed’s call for their declaration to be framed in positive rather than negative language to emphasise what can be achieved. The declaration calls for a cap in temperatures of 1.5 degrees as well as financing to help islands adapt to global warming.

“Climate change is the pre-eminent geopolitical and economic issue of the 21st century,” continued Ban Ki-Moon. “It rewrites the global equation for development, peace and prosperity. It will increase pressure on water, food and land…. reverse years of development gains…. exacerbate poverty…. destabilise fragile states and topple governments.”

While, many thought tackling climate change was an expensive undertaking, he added, failure to do so would wreak inestimable damage.

The UN secretary-general added a successful new deal must commit to ambitious targets, help vulnerable countries, have financial backing and be equitable to the needs of developing countries.

“Failure to reach broad agreement in Copenhagen would be morally inexcusable, economically short-sighted and politically unwise,” he said. “We cannot go down this road. If we have learned anything from the crises of the past year, it is that our fates are intertwined.”

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The government plans to revamp taxes and rent from tourist resorts to revitalise the industry, Tourism Minister Dr Ahmed Sawad has said

Speaking to Minivan News today, Sawad said the current fixed costs of bed tax and lease rents served as a disincentive to investors.

Under the government’s proposed scheme, tourists will pay an ad valorum tax instead of a fixed bed tax. This means tourists will pay a percentage of the room rate rather than the fixed rate of US$8 per bed.

Last month, Eugene Radilesku, a consultant from the International Monetary Fund, said the government needed to capitalise on revenue from the tourism industry. For a hotel room that ranges from US$200 to US$500 per night, he said, the government only earned about US$8 in revenue.

Sawad said the lease rent for islands will also be changed from a fixed rate to one that is varies with the area of land.

All resorts will be subject to the changes, said Sawad. “We have very high lease rents and this creates a very high room rent, which is a vicious cycle. This will also encourage investors to continue development of resorts under construction.”

There are currently 58 resorts under development.

The new structure would also lower investment and enable resorts to make profits sooner, resulting in more mid-range resorts, said Sawad.

The government planned to submit a bill on ad valorem tax to the next session of parliament, he said, along with legislation to replace lease rents and extend the lease period from 35 to 50 years and beyond.

Dr Abdullah Mausoom, opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP for Kelaa, said the party’s views will be made known at the parliament floor when the bill is debated.

“One thing I have learned is that there is not enough consultation with stakeholders,” he said. “It’s very important that stakeholders in the tourism industry, who will be the most impacted by this, are consulted.”

He added DRP will be meeting with the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) to discuss the matter.

Mohamed “Sim” Ibrahim, secretary general of MATI, told Minivan News today that the government gave a draft of the ad valorem tax legislation to the association today.

“There are several proposals the government has put on the table,” he said. “We have to see which of these is best for the country.”

The government needed to consider the impact on the industry, he added, and the introduction of taxes should be gradual.

“We can’t talk about quick solutions and knee-jerk reactions,” he said.

Sim said he did not think ad valorem taxes would lower the cost of investment. “I think it will be higher. It is much easier now because you know exactly what you’re paying and how you’re paying.”

But, he added, the government was consulting with MATI and other stakeholders in the industry.

“There is a process of exchange of opinions and ideas,” he said.

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