Category: News in Brief

Majlis will reconvene to discuss revenue raising measures

The People’s Majlis has agreed to return from recess on Tuesday (January 14) in order to discuss urgent amendments to tax and tourism legislation that will enable the government to raise vital revenue.

Local media has reported that the session will begin at 9am.

President Abdulla Yameen last week called upon the legislature to reassemble in order to facilitate the record MVR17.95 billion budget passed last month – of which MVR3 billion is reliant on new revenue raising measures.

“God willing, when the revenue related bills are passed next week the projects in atolls will speed up”, he said.

The measures include hiking Tourism GST from 8 percent to 12 percent, revising import duties, continuing tourism bed tax for one more year, raising airport departure charge for foreign passengers from US$18 to US$25, leasing 12 islands for resort development, introducing GST for telecommunication services, and obtaining resort lease payments as a lump sum.

Following the Majlis’s failure to extend tourism bed tax before the start of the current recess, Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad told local media that the resulting losses to state revenue would be MVR100 million a month.

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DQP MP Riyaz Rasheed joins PPM

Dhivehi Qaumee Party’s (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed has joined the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), local media has reported.

Riyaz said he signed to the party in the presence of both President Abdulla Yameen and Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

According to Riyaz he joined PPM because he had worked hard to bring the current government to power and that he could best serve the government by joining the party.

Riyaz denied his changing party having any connection to Elections Commission’s decision to dissolve the DQP.

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President calls on Majlis to expedite revenue raising measures

President Abdulla Yameen has said development projects can only be spoken of after the People’s Majlis passes revenue raising measures.

Yameen said  that in order to speed up the bills, a request for parliament sittings during this recess period had been submitted with signatures of twenty six members of parliament.

“God willing, when the revenue related bills are passed next week the projects in atolls will speed up,he said.

The Majlis in December passed a record MVR17.95 billion budget of which MVR3 billion is to be realised only after the parliament approves revisions to existing legislation.

The measures include hiking Tourism GST from 8 percent to 12 percent, revising import duties, continuing tourism bed tax for one more year, raising airport departure charge for foreign passengers from US$18 to US$25, leasing 12 islands for resort development, introducing GST for telecommunication services, and obtaining resort lease payments as a lump sum.

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Police suspend Upper South Division Commander

The Maldives Police Service has suspended the Upper South Division Commander Inspector Ahmed Shiyam in connection to an ongoing investigation.

The police declined to reveal details of the investigation.

Shiyam was the police media spokesperson for a long period and was later promoted to commander.

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Improving relations with Arab countries, a high priority in foreign policy: Yameen

Improving relations with Arab countries is a high priority of the government’s foreign policy, President Abdullah Yameen has said.

Speaking to the Ambassador of Iraq to the Maldives, Kahtan Taha Khalaf who made a courtesy call today, Yameen said that he will work towards improving bilateral relations with Iraq, and that it has been fourty three years since diplomatic relations with Iraq was established.

Taha congratulated Yameen on his being elected president.

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Chinese visa to be issued from Male’ Embassy

Chinese visas can be obtained from the Chinese Embassy in Male’ starting from 9 January 2014. The service will be available on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from morning 9:00am till 11:00am, and will be provided free of charge for Maldivian citizens.

The Chinese Embassy is located at H. Nookurikeela (Dhanbugas Magu- Boduthakurufaanu Magu junction).

The issue was discussed last month during the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Yu Hongyao’s courtesy visit to President Abdulla Yameen.

In that meeting the Chinese’ government confirmed the granting of 50 million Yuan (USD 8.2 million) in grant aid to the Maldives for developmental projects and public services.

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President nominates new MMA governor

President Abdulla Yameen has proposed Ibthishama Ahmed Saeed for the Majlis’ approval as the new governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority.

Ibthishama’s nomination for the position comes after the resignation of Dr Fazeel Najeeb last week for what he cited as being made for family reasons.

Upon his departure, Najeeb urged the state to reduce expenses and to withhold from printing money to cover debts: “A central bank must not resort to printing and releasing money, especially at a time when the economy is as weakened as it is now.

The President’s Office today reported that President Yameen had written to the former governor, thanking him for his work in strengthening and modernising the central banking authority.

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Five arrested in connection with robbery of tsunami site office in Gaafu Alifu Atoll

Police have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals and two Maldivians in connection with the robbery of the tsunami site office on the island of Villingili in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

A total of MVR12,000 was stolen from the office and police were able to recover half of it, said police.

Police said that MVR3000 was found with the two Maldivians arrested in connection with the case while the other three ex-pats had MVR1000 each.

Gaafu Alifu Villingili police station is further investigating the case.

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