Month: June 2010

World Bank grants over Rf160,000 to two Maldivian NGOs

The World Bank has granted more than Rf160,000 to two local NGOs for social projects, according to Haveeru Online.

The bank granted US$12,500 (Rf160,625) from its Civil Society Fund to the Live and Learn Environmental Education and the Maldives NGO Federation, during a function held at the Holiday Inn, Male, on Wednesday.

The Live and Learn grant will be used for a project to manufacture chilli sauce from locally grown chillies, and the NGO Federation grant will develop two video units in Fuvahmulah (Gnaviyani) and Addu (Seenu) atolls.

Executive Director of World Bank Group Dr Mirza Hassan said the bank’s aim was to foster a close relationship with Maldivian civil society. “This is the first time such aid has been provided to Maldivian NGOs. It has been decided to provide such aid to other local NGOs as well,” said Dr Hassan.

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Islamic ministry concerned about some aspects of DRP’s amendments to Religious Unity Act

Making the Shafi sect the basis of Islam in Maldives is unIslamic, says the ministry of Islamic Affairs in a statement on the proposed DRP amendments to the Religious Unity Act in the Majlis.

The ministry’s scholars claim Islam is a religion which allows Imams to chose from the styles of various sects, for example in the selection of praying rituals.

Neither the Koran nor the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) encourage a particular sect, and such an issue cannot be written into law, says the ministry.

The ministry welcomes the draft amendments to the Act, however, there are some elements about which its scholars expressed concern, according to a Miadhu Daily report, and the ministry calls on MPs to amend the draft proposals in committee.

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Boy missing in Male’ discovered in Addu Atoll

Police have located missing 14 year old Ahmed Laizam Latheef on Hithadhoo in Addu Atoll, after his family reported him missing at 11:30pm on Wednesday night.

Laizam is from Kashmeeruge in Seenu Feydhoo Atoll but was living at Ma. Velagala in Male’. His family reported him missing after he left home to pray in the nearby mosque across the road but did not return.

A family member told Minivan News the boy was not used to going anywhere alone, ”and he only goes to the mosque by himself as it is very close to our house.”

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said Laizam had taken a boat to Addu Atoll where we was staying with relatives on Hithadhoo.

“Police confirmed he was there, but he was sleeping so we didn’t disturb him,” Shiyam said, adding that police are now investigating why he left home.

“At this time, we can’t say why he left home,” Shiyam said. “He went by himself – nobody told him to go.”

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Former President Maumoon Gayyoom lodges defamation case against Miadhu Daily editor

Former President, Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom has lodged a defamation case against the managing editor of Miadhu Daily, Abdul Latheef, after the news company reported a New York Times article alleging corruption during Gayyoom’s 30 year regime.

A Miadhu Daily report published today says Abdul Latheef is being sued for misleading the public about Gayyoom’s presidency, according to the former president’s lawyer Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim.

Miadhu Daily reports Waheed saying that an article in the June 13 edition of Miadhu Daily, written by Ali Fahudhu, prompted Gayyoom to take legal action against the newspaper.

Gayyoom wishes to receive financial compensation for defamation of his character, reports Miadhu Daily.

Miadhu Daily claims it has not published any information not included in the New York Times article, and the Miadhu report referenced the original report. Miadhu Daily says it views the New York Times as an international media news source, which it used because the information was relevant to the Maldives.

Miadhu Daily reports that Waheed said Gayyoom’s legal team is investigating if the former president can take legal action against Gayyoom’s former cabinet minister, Ahmed Abdulla, who is CEO of Miadhu Daily, and the team is also preparing a case against the New York Times.

The New York Times article said the current Maldivian government is working to reclaim US$ 400 million allegedly stolen from public coffers during Gayyoom’s administration.

The former president has also lodged a defamation case against Ali Hashim, the current finance minister, after he was quoted in the New York Times report saying that if the allegedly looted money could be reclaimed, the current government would not need the foreign aid it is seeking today.

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Bids of up to Rf1 billion for airport, while Jumhoory Party announces ”special gathering” to express disapproval

Indian company GMR Infrastructure has said it is confident it will win the bid for Male’ International Airport, after offering US$78 million (Rf1 billion) upfront.

“Considering the offers, we will get the highest marks. We will make the payments and take over the operations of the airport in March,” newspaper Haveeru reported one official as saying.

Finance Minister Ali Hashim disclosed the bids at a function today.

Bids at a glance:

  • GMR-KLIA: US$78 million upfront and one percent of the total profit in the first year (until 2014), and 10 percent of the profit from 2015 to 2035. GMR would also pay 15 percent of fuel trade revenues to the government in the first four years and 27 percent from 2015 to 2035.
  • Turkish TAV Airports Holdings Company and French Airports De Paris: US$7 million (RF89.95 million) upfront payment, with 31 percent of the total profit until 2014 and 29.5 percent from 2015 to 2035. The consortium offered 16.5 percent of the profits from fuel trade.
  • Swiss Flughafen Zurich AG and GVK Airport Developers offered US$27 million (Rf346.95 million), along with 27 percent of the total profit in the first four years and nine percent of the profit from 2015 to 2035. The consortium said it would pay nine percent of fuel revenues to the government.

The Jumhoory Party (JP), led by Gasim ‘Buruma’ Ibrahim, has meanwhile announced that it will conduct a ”special gathering” to express disapproval at the government’s decision to privatise Male’ international airport.

Ali Shareef, secretary general of JP, said the special gathering would be conducted in collaboration with other NGOs and political parties.

”Male’ international airport was built by our forefathers and it is one of the assets of the state,” said Shareef. ”There are many concerns over privatising the airport, and we want to express our opinions during this special gathering.”

Shareef said the transaction could cause disruption and “national security issues”, and would decrease government revenue.

‘There is no transparency in this transaction,” he said. ”We are very concerned over the issue.”

He said that the gathering would be “a peaceful gathering.”

”We want to gather people and make them aware of what’s happening, and tell them the consequences of it,” he said. ”There is the potential for many problems if foreigners control the country’s main entrance.”

He said that the venue, date and time of the gathering was yet to be advised.

”We are in discussion with other parties involved and will decide the venue and date very soon,” he said.

Moosa Rameez, Spokesperson of JP, said members of the party and people of the country were concerned over the issue.

”Male’ international airport is a asset of the state which was built by the people,” said Moosa. ”We do not want it to be given to a foreign party.”

The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has also expressed concerned over the issue.

Vice President and Spokesman for the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Ibrahim Shareef said the party will not honour “shady deals made according to vested interests” if the party comes to power in 2013, referring to the government’s privatising of the country’s airports.

Shareef also expressed concern that the government’s efforts to privatise state assets, such as the airport, were not occurring with parliament approval.

Shareef said the airport was currently “making the government money”, and the asking price it had set “is so low. [The deal] is riddled with corruption,” he alleged. “If the government has nothing to hide, it has nothing to lose from asking parliament.”

Minister for Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Privatisation Committee Mahmoud Razee recently told Minivan News that ”as far as I understand we are proceeding according to the public finance act which is currently in force. Parliament legislates but actual delivery is up to the executive.”

It is the opposition’s “prerogative to say what they wish, but the reason why experienced and reliable companies are involved in this bid is because they believe that this is a viable project.”

The Male’ airport privatisation deal would be for 25 years, extendable by another 10 years, and would require a minimum level of investment towards upgrading the airport in the first three years to meet a certain level of service.

This week government shortlisted three parties to run Male’ International airport and has it would select one by the end of the week.

The parties include Aéroports de Paris Management Company of France (ADP) and Turkish company TAV Airports Holding Company, Indian company GVK Airport Developers in partnership with Swiss Flughafen Zurich AG, and GMR-KLIA.

Press secretary for the president, Mohamed Zuhair did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

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Maldives signs agreement with University of Milano-Bicocca for scientific and academic programs at Magoodhoo, Faafu atoll

The government has signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ (MoU) agreement with the University of Milano-Bicocca to implement scientific and
academic programs at an outpost of the university in Magoodhoo island, Faafu atoll.

With the agreement coming into effect the university will:
– Cover expenses related to research at the outpost;
– Provide all research equipment, instrumentation and other materials;
– Provide subsidised tuition fees for local students;
– Arrange two scholarships from various funding institutions.

For local students studying at the university:
– the university will organise Italian language classes for primary and secondary students at the island on a no fee basis.

At the agreement ceremony, President Nasheed and delegates from the university discussed how to make the outpost more effective, and how to implement the university programmes on the island as soon as possible.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by the minister of state for foreign affairs Ahmed Naseem, and on behalf of the university, rector Marcello Fontanesi.

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Qatar further expands routes across Europe and Asia

Qatar Airways has announced the launch of six new routes in Europe and Asia in 2010, servicing Phuket, Hanoi, Nice, Bucharest, Budapest and Brussels.

Qatar already connects Male’ International Airport with hubs including Doha, Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt and Cairo.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the new routes were underserved “and so are excellent opportunities for us to tap into.”

“We spend a lot of time diligently analysing new route opportunities and I am pleased to say that the routes being announced today will not only open up new markets, but also strengthen our network strategy over our Doha hub,” he said.

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Australian PM replaced by deputy in sudden party coup

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was disposed last night by his party, with his deputy Julia Gillard being sworn in today as the country’s new leader, and first female prime minister.

Rudd, who is on good terms with President Mohamed Nasheed, was elected in a landslide win in 2007 as leader of the Labor Party, but fell victim to factions within the party after his opinion polls plummeted, in what Australian Associated Press described as “a cloak-and-dagger plot hatched by shadowy backroom operators.”

“I have given my absolute all,” Rudd said, struggling to retain his composure in his final speech two hours after he stood down.

“I was elected by the Australian people as the prime minister… to bring back a fair go for all Australians. I have given my absolute best to do that,” he said, adding that he was less proud of “blubbering”.

“Having said all that folks, we’ve gotta zip,” he concluded.

Gillard gave credit to Rudd “for leading the nation in such difficult times and keeping people in work,’’ but said the government “was losing its way.”

“I love this country and I was not going to sit idly by and watch an incoming opposition cut health, cut education and smash rights at work,” she said.

Australian commentators observed that Rudd’s popularity divebombed during a damaging fight with Australia’s monolithic mining industry over a proposed 40 percent tax on their profits.

However many acknowledged surprise at the sheer speed of Rudd’s eviction – none more than Rudd himself, who visibly struggled through his exit speech.

Gillard appeared slightly discontented at the shadowy nature of her arrival at the helm and accepted the role somewhat grudgingly, remarking that she would not move into the Prime Minister’s official residence until she was voted into power in the upcoming Australian election.

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Majlis undermining executive power: Eva Abdulla

The Majlis is undermining the constitutional powers of the executive branch, said MDP MP for Galolhu Uthuru, Eva Abdulla, during yesterday’s Majlis session.

Abdulla gave examples from draft amendments to the Civil Service Act, the Public Finance Act, the Police Act and the newly proposed Atolls Capital bill, which she said were designed to narrow policy options for the executive branch. She condemned the amendments and the new bill. The mandate of the Majlis is to make independent institutions responsible, said Abdulla, but it is now attempting to manage those institutions.

Last week, the Civil Service Act was amended to make Civil Service Commission appointments through the Majlis, which also rejected the government proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act, and passed a law mandating a change of island capitals on Shaviyani and Kaafu atolls.

Maria Ahmed Didi, MDP chairperson, has said that the encroachments by the Majlis were unconstitutional, and the MDP has claimed that the aim of such amendments and laws was to stop the government’s development projects. However, the DRP has said the amendments and new bills were designed to make government more accountable.

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