Category: News in Brief

MP Nasheed to draft regulations for SEZ investment board

The investment board created under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act has tasked ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Mohamed ‘Kutti’ Nasheed with providing legal advice and drafting regulations.

Local media reported last week that the Kulhudhufushi South MP was appointed for the task with unanimous consent of the investment board members at its first meeting on Thursday (September 18).

Nasheed – who was also involved in drafting the legislation – reportedly agreed to draft the regulations free of charge.

Earlier this month, President Abdulla Yameen appointed Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb chairman of the board of investment.

The five-member board is authorised to grant approval for applications by developers to establish a zone, issue permits and investment licenses, and formulate rules and policies for the operation of SEZs.

Additionally, the board would monitor and review progress of investments, assess risk damage and liability, determine rates of fees and charges, and sign investment agreements between the government and developers.

The board would be assisted by a 17-member technical committee comprised of government officials as well as representatives from the private sector.

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Marine festival held in Mathiveri

A marine festival titled ‘Moodhu Maa-Kan’du Fest 2014’ took place on the island of Mathiveri in Alif Alif atoll on Saturday (September 20).

According to a press release from the US embassy, the one-day festival was organised by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture as well as the North Ari Atoll Council and “provided local residents with an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding environmental issues in their communities.”

US Ambassador to Maldives Michele J. Sison, State Minister for Environment and Energy Mohammed Ibrahim and State Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Zaha Waheed, State Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture attended the festival, which was held to raise awareness about climate change challenges and provide hands-on training to learn about protecting marine life.

“You are all aware of the overwhelming urgency to address climate change adaptation in Maldives,” Ambassador Sison was quoted as saying in the press release.

“That is why it is crucial for all the people of Maldives to participate when deciding how to protect your natural resources.”

The press statement explained that the festival was part of REGENERATE (Reefs Generate Environmental and Economic Resiliency for Atoll Ecosystems), a programme funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to “better protect and manage marine systems, especially the coral reef life affected by climate change and human activities.”

“Maldives attaches great importance to the protection and preservation of coral reefs. We continue to collaborate with partners, both local and international,” said Mohamed Ibrahim.

“However, we hold to creed that community participation and ownership is the key to the success of these efforts.”

The festival included activities such as “snorkeling and swimming lessons, a beach clean-up competition, an invention competition using recyclables, and even instructor-guided scuba diving lessons.”

“The Maldives territory is over 99 percent water and the archipelago’s well-being depends directly on healthy marine and coastal environments,” said Dr Ameer Abdulla, REGENERATE Program Manager and Senior Advisor to the IUCN Global Marine Program.

“This festival is a first step in motivating and forming the next generation of Maldivian marine scientists and managers.”

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Project to build multi-speciality hospital awarded to Treetop Investments

A project to build a multi-speciality hospital in Hulhumalé has been awarded to Treetop Investments Pvt Ltd by the Ministry of Health, reports CNM.

According to the online news outlet, local companies Champa Brothers, Kasa Holdings, Crown Company, and Kurehdhoo Holdings all have a stake in Treetop Investments.

The project was awarded to Treetop after initial expressions of interest (EOIs) submitted to the ministry were cancelled.

Health Ministry Director General Dr Sheeza Ali said efforts to formulate the contract and design were currently ongoing, adding that the project would be divided into two phases.

While 10 companies – including a Malaysian company, German company, two Indian companies, and five Maldivian companies – had submitted EOIs, the economic council decided not to allow the companies to submit detailed proposals.

The purpose of the 337-bed hospital is to ease the burden on the government-operated Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in the capital, the health ministry has previously said, and would function as an extension of IGMH.

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A bill on social workers will be drafted soon: Attorney General.

Attorney General (AG) Mohamed Anil has said that a bill on social workers detailing their rights and their disciplinary code will soon be drafted.

Speaking at a ceremony to conclude workshops held by the gender ministry aimed at social workers, Anil said the bill will ensure that work done by social workers is accepted by the laws and will make sure their services go under a constitutional framework.

The AG also said that the law should not only be targeted at government social workers but should also include social workers from private organisations and NGOs.

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Former President Waheed Departs for UN General Assembly to New York

Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan departs for New York today to represent Maldives at the UN General Assembly.

Speaking to Haveeru, President’s Office spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz said that Waheed would be addressing the assembly on behalf of his successor President Abdulla Yameen.

“Waheed will be speaking on the 30th of this month and in his talk he would highlight some of the government’s policies and concerns,” said Muaz.

Accompanying Waheed will be a special envoy consisting of high government officials including Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon.

President Yameen was not able to take part in the General Assembly because he is due to leave for the Hajj pilgrimage on the 25th of this month.

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Housing ministry gives unlimited tokens for apartment submissions

The housing ministry has begun giving out unlimited tokens for the submission of applications to apply for the 1500 flats being built at Hulhumalé.

Unlimited tokens are being handed out after a number of complaints from people queuing from early this morning who fell foul of the previous 175 token limit per day.

People have been queuing as early as midnight in the hope of being able to submit apartment forms the following day.

The decision by the housing ministry is expected to improve the application process, although there are a numerous administrative issues expected to complicate proceedings.

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Government hands back Kaadehdhoo Airport to Villa Air

The government has returned Kaadehdhoo regional airport to Gasim Ibrahim’s Villa Air 38 days after terminating the contract with the tourism ministry.

Speaking to local news outlet Vnews, Managing Director Rilwan Shareef of Villa Air said that the airport had been handed back to the company by the government on Thursday (September 19).

Kaadehdhoo Airport, which is leased out to Villa for fifty years to develop and manage the airport, was taken by the government last month after it cited a breach of the agreement on Villa’s side.

The Villa Group – founded by Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim – suffered adversely from a number of government decisions last month just as Gasim attempted to stall President Abdulla Yameen’s flagship Special Economic Zones Act.

President Yameen denied the setbacks for Villa had been politically motivated after the JP alleged that both these decisions and subsequent death threats received by Gasim had come from political opponents.

The handing back of Kaadehdhoo Airport comes within a week of the reinstatement of Maamigili Airport, also under the management of Villa Air, as an international airport after it was downgraded to domestic status due to security concerns.

A  nearby island which was leased out to the Villa Group for agricultural purposes was also taken by the government at the same time as the airport.

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President Yameen meets Sri Lankan president to discuss diplomatic relations

President Abdulla Yameen met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday (September 19) to discuss relations between the two nations.

At a meeting held at Rajapaksa’s official residence in Sri Lanka, the two presidents acknowledged the strong diplomatic relations between the two countries and discussed further ways to strengthen ties.

They also spoke of the joint-commission meetings held between the two nations earlier this month and highlighted the main points discussed during the meeting and the importance of implementing the decisions made.

Rajapaksa also praised President Yameen on his recent initiatives such as the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and ‘ihaven’ aimed at transforming the Maldivian economy.

President Yameen’s visit comes soon after Chinese President Xi Jinpeng visited the two nations on his South Asian tour.

The Chinese visit to the Maldives saw the signing of eight MoUs most notably the agreements on the promotion of the Malé-Hulhulé bridge and the development of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

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Man found dead in Haa Alif Ihavandhoo

A 67-years-old man was found dead today on Ihavandhoo island in Haa Alif Atoll.

Abdullah Abubakr had been reported as missing yesterday evening (September 17).

Speaking to local news outlet Raajje.mv, Ihavanndhoo Atoll council member Abdullah Husain said that the man had been missing since 5pm yesterday.

“After an extensive search he was found inside a well at an abandoned house. He was already dead by the time we found him,” said Husain.

The man was found by his son at around 6:30am after a search coordinated by Ihavandoo police station and the island council.

Police said that they did not notice any physical harm to the body.

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