Category: News in Brief

Maldives and China sign 50 million yuan grant aid agreement

The Maldives and China have signed a grant aid agreement worth 50 million yuan (US$ 8.2 million) last week.

The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation is “for the implementation of developmental projects and the advancement of public services,” the President’s Office has previously said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Maldives and Mr. Yu Hongyao signed on behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

China has also pledged assistance to restore Kaafu Atoll Island Dhiffushi Island School after a fire destroyed the school’s offices in November.

The grant aid comes at a time the Maldives is facing dire economic circumstances, with the government unable to afford its huge recurrent expenditure on a bloated civil service and is failing to pay millions of dollars owed to state-owned companies for services such as oil and electricity.

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EC extends local council application deadline

The Elections Commission (EC) has extended the application deadline for candidates who wish to contest in January’s local council elections.

Applications will now be accepted until 3:00 pm on December 10.

The deadline was extended to allow candidates to obtain criminal and debt records from the Maldives Police Services and Superior Courts.

The High Court, Criminal Court and Department of Judicial Administration have opened out of hours in order to serve the large number of requests for criminal and debt records.

The EC has said it expects over 4000 candidates to contest the 1118 seats in local council elections.

Political parties held primaries during the last week to determine candidates who will contest elections on their tickets.

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Police bust major drug trafficking network

The Maldives Police Services have busted a major drug trafficking network, arresting two Maldivian men with large amounts of illicit drugs and cash, local media has reported.

Under a court warrant, the police’s Drug Enforcement Department raided Henveiru Fahaage in Malé City and apprehended a network of drug-traffickers.

The police told local media it is raiding additional places reported to have links with the network and have arrested several expatriates.

Further information on the amount of drugs confiscated and the number of arrests will be revealed at a later date, the police said.

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Alliance Francais De Malé launches French film festival

The Alliance Francais De Malé (AFM) will begin a week of French film tomorrow, with a screening of the 2010 film ‘The Tree’ at the CHSE on Lily Magu in Malé.

Monday’s screening begins a week of modern French cinema, with screenings of ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ – at the National Art Gallery, ‘The Minister’ – CHSE,  and ‘The Painting’ – the National Library.

Entrance is free for AFM member, and MVR50 for non-members.

The AFM is also seeking further applicants in its international photography contest. Participants are required to submit two photographs on the theme “On joue sur la Terre!” (“Playing onEarth!”).

Participants will get the opportunity to win a trip to Paris and potentially see their work exhibited in a Parisian art gallery. Entrance is free to Maldivians aged over 18 years.
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Government to introduce chemotherapy, unlimited Aasandha and a doctor for every family in 100 days

Acting Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has said President Abdulla Yameen’s administration will provide chemotherapy services, a doctor for every family, and will upgrade government’s health insurance scheme ‘Aasandha’ to provide unlimited services within the first 100 days of government.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the President’s Office late last week, Ameen pledged to improve the health sector. He said unlimited Aasandha services will bring an end to prescription drugs shortages and ease the process of obtaining medical care for chronic diseases.

“Unlimited Aasandha” was a key pledge of the Progressive Party of the Maldives.

Ameen said providing unlimited health care will not be a “burden” on the state budget or the client. Further details will be revealed at a later date, he added.

President Yameen has said the government’s economy is in a “deep pit” and vowed to cut state expenditure.

Ameen noted several Maldivians had moved abroad to obtain chemotherapy, as the service is currently not available in the Maldives and pledged to provide chemotherapy through the government’s health scheme Aasandha.

The government has also promised to provide cervical cancer screening services within 100 days.

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Yameen offers condolences on the passing of Nelson Mandela

“The Maldives stands shoulder to shoulder with South Africa in the true and comprehensive realization of Madiba’s dream,” said President Abdulla Yameen after the passing away of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

President Mandela passed away on December 5th, aged 95, following a long illness.

In a message of condolence to current South African President Jacob Zuma, Yameen described the anti-apartheid leader as a source of unrivalled inspiration for recent generations.

“President Mandela’s long walk to freedom does not end with his passing away. His vision of a South Africa of prosperity, peace and harmony is shared by all who loved, respected and admired him,” read a press release from the President’s Office.

Yameen offered the condolences on behalf of the people and the government of the Maldives.

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Police raids beauty salon, arresting three women and five men

Police last night raided ‘Herbal Beauty Salon’ in Male’,  arresting three Thai women and five Maldivian men for allegedly conducting sexual activities.

A joint special operation with the police’s intelligence department and serious and organized crime department was conducted after police received reports of the offences.

According to the police, when offices raided the premises of the beauty salon some individuals inside the rooms were naked.

A large amount of Maldivian rufiyaa and tools used for sexual activities were found inside the place, the police said.

In August this year, the Criminal Court sentenced the owner of Sondo Born Beauty Care Salon – 64 year-old Abdul Latheef Ali of Henveiru Philadelphi in Male’ – to four years in prison after finding him guilty of running a brothel and forcing three Thai women into prostitution.

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President Yameen appoints four state ministers and three deputy ministers

President Abdulla Yameen has appointed four state ministers and three deputy ministers.

The three state ministers appointed are: Zahaa Waheed as minister of state for fisheries and agriculture, Aminath Athifa as minister of state for housing and infrastructure, and Ahmed Musthafa Mohamed as minister of state for tourism, arts, and culture.

Mohamed Zuhair was also appointed as the head of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) – a position equivalent to minister of state.

Of the new four state ministers, Zahaa Waheed is a relative of President Yameen and Aminath Athifa is the current registrar of President Yameen’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Meanwhile, Ahmed Musthafa Mohamed was the former deputy minister at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Three deputy ministers appointed are, Adam Thaufeeq as the deputy minister for economic development, Abdulla Fayaz as the deputy minister housing and infrastructure, and Ali Waheed as the deputy minister for Islamic affairs.

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53 year-old man stabbed in Hoarafushi

A group of men last night stabbed a 53 year-old man on the island of Hoarafushi in Haa Alifu Atoll.

Police said that the incident occurred last night at about 3:30am, while the old man was on his way to go fishing.

According to the police he was stabbed twice in his back and is currently being treated at Dhidhoo Hospital in Haa Alifu Atoll.

The police said that the assailants were covering their faces using masks and they fled after the attack. However, police have brought in three suspects.

The three men aged 21, 22 and 27 were arrested at about 4:15am this morning, according to police.

Police said Hoarafushi Police Station is investigating the case.

Local media identified the old man as Abdul Baary of Finihiyaage in Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll.

In September 2010, Hussein Mohamed Manik, 61, a prominent businessman and seller of oil and hardware products was found dead inside an abandoned house on Hoarafushi in Haa Alifu Atoll.

Local media at the time reported that Manik’s hands were tied behind his back with rope, and that the body was lying on the ground in a prone position when discovered.

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