Day: September 25, 2012

Finance Minister estimates budget deficit will reach MVR6billion

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad has told parliament’s Finance Committee that this year’s budget deficit can be expected to be double the original estimate of MVR3billion (US$195million), reported Haveeru.

Jihad is said to have explained that the bulk of  the deficit came from unpaid bills left over by the previous government, amounting to MVR2billion (US$130million).

During the committee’s meeting, which continues regardless of the status of the Majlis (currently suspended), Jihad also said that an additional MVR800million (US$52million) had been paid out from this year’s budget.

He said that this year’s revenue is expected to be MVR11.5billion (US$746million), whilst total expenditure is MVR14.6billion (US$948million).

Meanwhile, he reported that state spending this year, MVR9billion (US$590 million), had outstripped earnings by 28percent.

These figures represent an improvement on the Finance Committee’s earlier estimates which, in May, had anticipated a deficit of MVR9.1billion (US$590 million) after meeting with Jihad.

The committee is also reported to have given the go ahead to take out a further US$25million loan from India.

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Ayyubey’s final heir calls for death sentence

Ali ‘Ayyubey’ Hassan’s final heir has asked for the death penalty for the underaged defendants in his murder trial, reported Haveeru.

Ayyubey, 76, was found murdered with multiple stab wounds on Kudahuvadhoo in January this year.

The victim had been accused of using sorcery on a 37 year-old woman, whose body had been found in the lagoon the previous month.

The Prosecutor General (PG) pressed charges against three men and three male youths – two of whom admitted the charges, whilst the third awaits the results of DNA tests.

The final of nine heirs opted for qisas (equal retaliation) in Addu Court rather than choosing to accept blood money.

This process is standard under Sharia law, although the President’s legal authority to commute death sentences to 25 years has resulted in a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 1953.

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Ministry of Human Rights reserves posts for the disabled

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights has reserved three posts for people with disabilities and has urged other government departments to do the same, reports Sun Online.

The ministry is said to have reserved the position of Procurement Officer for a person with disabilities whilst two additional posts will be reserved for those with visual impairment.

Sun reported that the ministry drew attention to article 37 of the constitution which guarantees the right to work to all Maldivian citizens.

Private businesses have also been encouraged to follow the Ministry of Gender’s lead.

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