A racing motorbike in Fuahmulah crashed into a police van at about 11:00pm last night.
Sun Online reports that the motorbike was driven by a 16 year-old, who escaped with minor injuries.
According to police, the 16 year-old was racing with his friends but lost control of his vehicle after not slowing down for a speed bump.
The headlight of the police van was smashed in the accident.
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(0)The religious conservative Adhaalath Party has condemned the Tourism Ministry for backing down on threats to withhold operating licenses of resorts with unpaid rent and fines.
The Tourism Ministry warned resort facilities with unpaid rents and fines to settle at least 25 percent of the outstanding amounts by July 20 or face revoking of licenses. However the ministry later decided not to follow through on the warning after at least seven out of ten resorts failed to comply within the period.
“Adhaalath Party believes that this decision made by the Tourism Ministry not to withhold the licenses will have adverse affects on society,” said the Adhaalath Party in a press statement. “It would cause the public to lose confidence in a state institute.”
Adhaalath Party claimed to have information that resorts owned by a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP and Economic Advisor to the President along with a candidate for the MDP Chairperson post were among the resorts on the list.
“This decision of the Tourism Ministry will encourage individuals and businessman not to uphold the laws,” the party said. “As a result, the state will have to face difficulties in collecting revenues owed and it is possible that it affects the domestic economy.”
The party said that it was “very irresponsible” of the Tourism Ministry to make such a decision, adding that a delegation from Adhaalath is due to meet ministry officials over the issue.
Following the Tourism Ministry’s decision, the Commissioner General of Taxation Yazeed Mohamed told newspaper Haveeru that “even if the Tourism Ministry does not take measures, MIRA will fulfill its legal responsibilities.”
MIRA is currently pursuing cases at the Civil Court against a number of tourist facilities to recover unpaid rents.
(0)Dislikes(0)Male’ City Council and the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) is set to open a new raw fish market at the T-jetty area of the Male’ southwest harbour.
The new market to be opened at 4:00pm tomorrow will be located at the old Champa Market plot.
Councillor Ibrahim Shuja told Sun Online today that the purpose of the new market was to provide affordable raw fish to the public following recent price hikes.
A filleted fish is to be sold between Rf75 and Rf80 while raw fish will be sold for Rf35 to Rf40.
Shuja said that the fish sold at the market would be “freshly caught” catch brought from MIFCO vessels.
(0)Dislikes(0)Parliament voted 37-13 today to extend by an additional six months regulations without enabling or parent legislation when the new constitution was ratified.
Over 80 regulations and procedural rules in place when the new constitution was ratified in August 2008 has been extended annually since then until enabling legislation – such as a Criminal Procedures Act, a revised Penal Code and a Drug Bill in committee since 2009 – could be passed. The previous extension approved in August 2010 was due to expire on August 5 this year.
Under the motion passed today, the parliamentary Rules Committee will be tasked with supervising the finalisation and passage of the required legislation within the proposed six months period.
(0)Dislikes(0)Parliament committees resumed work this week after a two month hiatus caused by a drawn out dispute over reconstituting the composition of committees.
Chairs and deputy chairs were chosen for the committees yesterday, with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) getting its MPs as chairs for six of the 12 standing committees.
Jumhooree Party (JP) Leader Gasim Ibrahim was elected as chair of the coveted ‘241’ Security Services Committee with MDP MP “Reeko” Moosa Manik as deputy chair.
Independent MP Mohamed Nasheed chairs the Independent Institutions Committee while opposition MPs chair the Social Affairs Committee, Privileges Committee, Government Oversight Committee and Public Accounts Committee.
(0)Dislikes(0)The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) opened administrative offices in each inhabited island of the Maldives this week.
Speaking at a function on Monday, Chairperson “Reeko” Moosa Manik explained that the costs of the new offices were borne by party members and councillors.
The offices will liaise with the Head Office in Male’ to organise party activities, Moosa said.
The MP for Hulhu-Henveiru added that the new offices would help a membership drive to increase the party base to 50,000 from its current 47,301, making it the largest party in the country.
(0)Dislikes(0)President Mohamed Nasheed departed for Seychelles this morning on an official visit to attend the Indian Ocean Island Games.
Nasheed will also meet Seychelles President and Vice President during the trip.
Speaking to press before his departure, President Nasheed noted that the government’s economic reform package proposed to parliament would help with the fulfillment of the pledge to lower living costs and control inflation.
President Nasheed also stressed the importance of reducing government expenditure while increasing revenue through newly-introduced taxes.
(0)Dislikes(0)A new shop with a variety of fish products from the Koodoo Industrial Fisheries Complex opened in Male’ this week.
Koodoo Managing Director Ismail Adam told Sun Online that the new shop – located in front of Wood Apple restaurant – would sell canned fish for cheaper prices that retail shops in the capital.
Apart from canned fish, the new shop sells seafood varieties and short eats.
(0)Dislikes(0)India’s External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna has said India will shortly embark on extensive renovation work of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’, as well as construct a Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies by 2013.
Other major projects being considered by the Indian government include the establishment of a Development Finance Institution in Maldives, promotion of the Maldives as a filming destination, and creating the infrastructure for an IT village, reported South Asian news agency ANI.
“The bilateral cooperation between India and Maldives is on a high trajectory in recent times with both sides embarking on comprehensive, forward looking, pragmatic and mutually beneficial initiatives and projects. We have been working together on increasing connectivity and closer economic integration,” Krishna said.
President Mohamed Nasheed has invited Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to visit the Maldives in November 2011.
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