Category: News in Brief

MIRA revenue collection in May increases 59.9 percent

Total revenue collected by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) in May increased 59.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to MIRA’s monthly revenue collection report, government income in May reached MVR800.9 million (US$38.7 million), which was also 5.9 percent higher than the forecast for the month.

“Pursuant to the fourth amendment to the Tourism Act, the majority of the first instalment of the Lease Period Extension Fee was paid in May 2014,” the report explained.

“This is a one-time fee spread over eight quarterly instalments starting from May 2014 and was not collected in May 2013.”

In February, parliament passed an amendment to the Tourism Act requiring the lease period extension fee to be paid within two years as part of the current administration’s revenue raising measures.

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President’s Office opens calls for an Information Commissioner and a PIC member

The President’s Office has re-opened a call for applicants for the position of Information Commission and opened a call for applicants for membership of the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).

The President’s Office said it had re-opened the call for Information Commissioner because only one applicant had answered the first call for applications in May.

The Information Commissioner position is a newly created independent office established by the landmark Right to Information Act.

The Act mandates President Abdulla Yameen to submit nominations for the post within 15 days of the Act coming into force on July 12. The People’s Majlis has to approve a nominee within 30 days of submission.

The call for applications will expire on June 22.

The PIC vacancy was caused by PIC member Dr Hala Hameed’s resignation earlier this year. Hala was appointed as State Minister for Health and Gender.

The call for applicants or PIC membership will expire on June 30.

Both applications are available on the President’s Office website.

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Traffic policing starts in Addu

The Maldives Police Services have started traffic policing in southern Addu City in the wake of frequent and dangerous accidents on the city’s link road.

The service was inaugurated on Monday (June 9).

Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Shifan said the Addu Traffic Police Cell has employed experienced police officers who have already received training in the Malé Traffic Police Department.

In May, members of Afghanistan’s national football team were injured in an accident on the link road.

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MIRA announces 10 work-study scholarships

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has announced ten work-study openings on Tuesday.

MIRA will award employees selected under “learn while you earn” scholarships to study accounting at Maldivian colleges.

Employees are expected to work full time while studying, and will be paid for their work. The basic salary for the jobs are MVR 4000, but will receive an additional MVR 2000 in benefits. A further MVR 150 will be given per day as a service allowance and an MVR 75 per day for non practicing allowance.

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President appoints Deputy Minister of Education

President Abdulla Yameen has on Tuesday appointed Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim of Bodufendaage from the island of Hinnavaru in Lhaviyani Atoll to the post of Deputy Minister of Education.

The Education Ministry currently has two state ministers and six other deputy ministers.

The current government has a total of 16 cabinet ministers, 5 other appointees at ministerial rank, 30 state ministers and 60 deputy ministers.

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Government signs agreement with IPNLF to promote fisheries

The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has signed an agreement with the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) to promote fisheries in the Maldives through a number of projects.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, IPNLF Director John Barton stated that the foundation will assist the Maldives in various projects to develop fisheries in the country, as well as in training fishermen.

Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee revealed that the ministry is currently undertaking projects worth US$283,000 with IPNLF.

He further said that under the programme, the VilliMalé Training Center will be handed over to the Fisheries Association within the next week.

Shainee noted that working with the IPNLF would facilitate promotion of Maldivian fisheries in European countries.

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Religious extremists abducting youth for “irreligious acts,” says MDP

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged religious extremists have abducted and threatened young people for alleged impiety.

“The Maldivian Democratic Party has received information that some religious extremists have kidnapped young people claiming they had committed irreligious acts,” said the party.

“The extremists blindfolded the young people, took them to remote locations against their will, threatened them with sharp weapons, threatened them with death, issued sentences in a false trial, and are now implementing these sentences.”

The abductors then told the hostages they will be killed if any news of the abduction is shared with any other party.

The MDP said it believed “these dangerous acts of terrorism” are against the Maldives constitution, its laws, and Islamic Sharia, and are being committed by individuals for personal gain.

The party has called on the government to take immediate action.

Minivan News is waiting on a response from the Maldives Police Services and the President’s Office.

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Four persons arrested for possession of alcohol

Police have last night arrested four male persons for being in possession of 86 cans of beer.

According to the police, the cans were discovered while searching a boat docked at the jetty near the Malé waste yard on Sunday night (June 8).

While the police are further investigating the matter, they revealed that the arrested men include three Maldivians and one Bangladeshi.

The penalty for alcohol possession in the penal code – to be updated next year – is either a fine of between MVR1,000 to MVR3,000 or imprisonment, banishment, or house arrest for up to three years.

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Majlis speaker announces five parliamentarians to lead in his absence

The names of five parliamentarians who will lead parliament in the instance that both the speaker and his deputy are absent, have been announced by Speaker Abdulla Maseeh.

Parliamentary regulations stipulate that the five members must be those who have served for the longest time in the chamber.

The five names are Holhudhoo constituency MP Ali Mohamed, Kanditheemu constituency MP Mohamed Hussain, Hinnavaru constituency and MDP Parliamentary Group Leader MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, former speaker and Henveiru Uthuru constituency MP Abdulla Shahid, and Guraidhoo constituency MP Hussain Manik Dhon Manik.

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