Month: March 2011

Maldives becoming an attractive place to own property: CityAM

For years, the Indian Ocean’s most exquisite islands, the Maldives, have been solely the preserve of hotels. Now, they’ve begun to open up to foreign buyers, thanks to new laws introduced by the pro-enterprise President Mohamed Nasheed, writes Zoe Strimpel for London’s CityAM newspaper.

“Before Nasheed, elected two years ago, leaseholds were too short to attract European buyers – but they have now been extended to 50 years, with plans to extend them to 99 years over the next few years. As a result – with zero income or capital gains tax, not to mention utterly idyllic surrounds – the islands are swiftly becoming an attractive place to own property.

“Of course, there’s always the threat of trouble in paradise – the Maldives were on the 2004 tsunami’s hit list, with several resorts totally wiped out. And, we’ve all heard predictions that the atolls could be under the ocean within a few years.

“Insurance is your main guard against the first concern. Buyers pay a small percentage of the overall insurance cost which is rolled into the annual maintenance charges and equates to 1.5 per cent of the purchase price per annum. Many villas have now also been constructed with tsunami-resistant timber.

“The second worry can be taken with a pinch of salt if you’re so inclined. Some scientists say that if the Maldives are to slip under water, it won’t be for 200 years. So, even if the worst is to happen, you should still have a while to enjoy your luxury villa in sunny Eden.”

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Opposition split to MDP’s benefit: Eurasia Review

Knowing very well that the skeletons in the ‘cupboard’ would be dug out, [former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom] did the right thing in seeking a deal so that he was left out of harm’s way, writes Dr S Chandrasekharan for the Eurasia Review.

“President Nasheed despite pressure from his colleagues in the MDP did leave Gayoom alone. Yet Gayoom, overtaken by greed for power or perhaps pressure from his relatives, returned to Maldives hurriedly to campaign for the DRP candidates in the local elections conducted recently.

“There is no doubt that Gayoom could claim credit for the smooth transition to democracy and no ‘Jasmine Revolution’ was needed. He had let the tourism industry to flourish despite objections from some of the religious extremists and more importantly kept the Islamists under control. Having provided a good constitution, he should have remained as a great “Patriarch,” keep away from politics and at the same time ensure smooth and peaceful transition.

“He could have as well attended to more critical social and environmental problems confronting the country in his retirement and remembered in history as the maker of modern Maldives. But he chose to stand for presidential elections. He did not do badly either though he lost in the “run off.”

“Now old skeletons are being dug up. The “Week” of 20th February from India, has extensively written about the family of Gayoom of having indulged in an illegal oil deal with Myanmar worth over $800 million and a report is now said to be submitted to the current President Nasheed by a Singapore Consultancy firm Grant Thornton.

“It was just eleven months ago that Gayoom personally handpicked his successor Thasmeen Ali to lead his party DRP and the latter was unanimously elected. Differences have been brewing between the ‘Supreme leader’ Gayoom and the President of the party Thasmeen Ali for some time now, ever since the deputy leader of the party Umar Naseer was sacked from the party. Gayoom’s family members openly alleged that Thasmeen was ‘ill-treating Gayoom’.

“The net result is that the DRP, which is a formidable opposition is in the brink of splitting up into two or more parties. The coalition partner PA led by Gayoom’s half brother Abdulla Yameen is alleged to be behind the split and yet he declared a few days ago that his party for the present will stick with DRP.

“The advantage as of now thanks to the re-entry of Gayoom is with MDP which has been making steady gains ever since it failed to get a majority in the parliamentary elections and has been facing stiff opposition on every issue including the appointment of cabinet ministers till now.”

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Two arrested for recording nude footage in Thinadhoo

Police Spokesperson Lance Corporal Abdul Majeed Moosa has said that police have arrested two persons in Thinadhoo after it was reported that a group had recorded nude footage of a group of visiting athletics officials.

Moosa said that the visiting officials went to the island to attend ‘Makita Inter Atoll Junior Athletics Championship’ held on Thinadhoo.

”We can’t give more information as the investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Local newspaper ‘Haveeru’ reported that the two nude videos were of two foreign officials.

The paper reported that sources familiar with the case has said that the videos were recorded inside the bathroom secretly and some of the videos have been leaked.

The incident has caused the other members of the officials team to be concerned that their videos might also have been recorded secretly.

All the officials stayed in one house and there were two toilets in that house which both males and females in the team used during their stay in Thinadhoo.

Recently police arrested 14 persons for recording nude videos and pictures of senior government officials through facebook.

Police have not yet provided further information of the case.

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City Council extends carnival plots lease

Male’ City Council has extended leases for plots rented out from the Alimas Ufaa Carnival area by an additional three months, reports Haveeru.

While the leases for the cafes and other facilities at the Carnival expired in 2006, the now-defunct Male’ Municipality has been extending the leases since 2007.

Male’ Mayor “Sarangu” Adam Manik said that the council decided to finalise development plans for the area during the next three months.

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Tourist arrivals reach record-high in February

Tourist arrivals in February reached record-high figures with 87,106 guests visiting the Maldives last month, the highest-number recorded in a single month, reports Haveeru.

Arrivals in February increased 9.6 percent from the previous month, while the number of arrivals in February of last year was 77,063 tourists.

Statistics from the Immigration Department show a 15 percent increase during the first two months of 2011 compared to the same period last year.

Continuing last year’s trend, Chinese tourists constitute the largest market share with 18.5 percent, while European visitors still make up 64 percent.

Average occupancy in 91 resorts during February stayed high at 94.3 percent.

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Labour Tribunal overrules GMR summons to airport employee

The Labour Tribunal issued an injunction Tuesday to GMR after the company ordered an employee of the Maldives Airports Company studying abroad to report back to work.

According to Haveeru, the tribunal issued the temporary order after investigating a complaint filed by the employee, Shahryaz Latheef, who is currently in Bangkok, Thailand.

Pending a final decision on the case, the tribunal ordered GMR to pay Latheef basic salary and other expenses for the course as agreed upon in an agreement made with the Maldives Airports Company on July 8, 2010.

However, Latheef’s lawyer Ali Shah claimed that as of today GMR has yet to make the payments, adding that he would take the Indian infrastructure giant to court to enforce the tribunal’s order if it failed to comply before the end of the day.

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MRM will be political forerunner, claims Dr Munnavar

Former Attorney General Dr Mohamed Munnavar has said his newly-registered Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) aims to lead the way for other political parties, according to Haveeru.

“What’s needed isn’t for us to follow the rest of the parties. The aim is to see that other parties come to us. I want to make this party that strong,” the former Maldivian Democratic Party leader said, adding that it would take three to six months for the party to become active.

Munnavar said that work was being done to improve the party administratively, suggesting that “other parties will take our side when we become active.”

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MWSC introduces AMR technology and e-services

The Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) launched its new e-services and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology at a ceremony on Tuesday night.

According to the utility company, as the new meters are equipped with wireless transmitters capable of sending information to a receiving device at the company office, employees would no longer be sent to households every month for meter readings.

The device will also immediately alert the company to leaks or other problems.

MWSC’s e-services meanwhile include e-portal, e-bill and e-pay to enable customers to check their balance and make online payments.

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