Year: 2012

Bangladesh-Maldives sand deal shelved: Business Standard

A deal in the pipeline last year between the Maldives and Bangladesh to ship sand from Bangladeshi rivers to increase the land level of Maldivian islands in anticipation of sea-level rise appears to have been shelved, according to a report by Business Standard.

“I don’t think the plan is still there. They wanted to export sand to up the land level in defence against rising sea level. We had asked them to dredge and take the sand from our rivers, but they never came back with a complete proposal. I do not think that Maldives has such technical expertise,” Ghulam Muhammed Quader, Bangladesh commerce minister was quoted as saying.

The plan was reportedly conceptualised during a meeting between former President Mohamed Nasheed and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in 2010.

“Even if, Maldives was willing, there were some pros and cons for the project as it involved environmental issues too,” Quader added.

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Auditor General doubts fisheries subsidies could be released

Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim told local daily Haveeru last week that he doubted whether the government could release MVR 100 million as fuel subsidies for fishermen as decided by parliament’s Finance Committee on October 17.

In an interview with the newspaper, Niyaz questioned the legality of issuing the subsidy, suggesting that it could be in violation of the Public Finance Act.

“If we look at the Finance Act, we have doubts whether these funds could be released. We also have doubts over the strength of the policies set to issue the subsidy. There are question marks over the effectiveness of the subsidy. Questions arise as to why a certain group is benefiting from these funds as subsidy for a period of two months,” Niyaz was quoted as saying.

The Auditor General’s Office was assessing the guidelines approved by the parliamentary committee for issuing the subsidies, Niyaz said, adding that the office has informed the Fisheries Ministry that its recommendations would be submitted to the Finance Committee.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Ali Solih told local media last week that an announcement inviting applications for the subsidy would be made in the government’s gazette to start issuing subsidies on November 1.

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Thousands attend Eid prayer

Thousands attended the Eid prayers on Friday morning at 16 mosques in Male’, Vili-Male’ and Hulhumale’ as well as the “official” congregration at the Maafanu stadium.

Local daily Haveeru reported that the stadium area was prepared in advance with the ground covered in canvas. President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik participated in the congregation.

President Waheed also extended greetings to the people of the Maldives and Leaders of Islamic countries on the auspicious occasion of Eid ul-Al’haa.

“Highlighting that Eid ul-Al’haa was an occasion to strengthen kindness and friendship among all Muslims, President Waheed noted that Hajj encourages the establishment of harmonious familial and brotherly relations among us,” according to the President’s Office.

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Jalapeno Restaurant closed down after police raid

Police on Thursday night temporarily closed down the Jalapeno Restaurant in Male’ after arresting a number of people caught using alcohol in the premises.

According to Sun Online, police raided the restaurant located at the artificial beach area at 11.45pm and checked the premises in the presence of journalists.

Police reportedly discovered a number of alcohol bottles under the tables on the second floor of the restaurant in addition to packets containing hashish oil and heroin.

The liquor bottles and “suspected” illicit narcotics were displayed to media.

Sun Online reported that those arrested included a waiter and supervisor from the restaurant.

Moreover, an anonymous member of the public told the online news outlet that “young people of both sexes” used the separate open-air section of the restaurant to consume alcohol and drugs.

A police media official informed journalists at the scene that the raid was part of the ongoing special operation to curb crime in the capital.

Police did not reveal the number of people arrested in the raid. Newspaper Haveeru reported that over 20 people were arrested inside the restaurant. Police however told the newspaper that people inside the restaurant at the time were taken in for questioning.

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EC urges public to check party registration

The Elections Commission (EC) has urged members of the public registered to political parties without their knowledge to submit a complaint form before November 18.

In an announcement on the EC website, the commission explained that it was receiving a number of complaints from the public about being registered to a political party without their knowledge or consent.

The EC noted that it had established mechanisms to check party registration either through text messages or on the official website.

A text message sent to 1414 with PPR space followed by the national ID card number would show if the person is registered to a political party. Alternately, the EC website has an online database to check party registration by entering the ID card number.

The complaint form, which is available on the website and the EC office counter, should be submitted if the political party in question fails to comply with a written request to leave the party within seven days, the EC noted. Upon submission of the form, the EC will remove the person’s name from the party registry.

“One of the most important reasons for doing this in the given period [before November 18] is to carry out distribution of funds for political parties from the 2013 state budget in the best possible manner,” the EC stated.

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Over MVR 4 million collected in traffic violation fines

Police have collected over MVR 4 million (US$259,403) in fines for traffic violations, Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Saudhi revealed at a press briefing on Wednesday.

From January to the end of September this year, Saudhi said MVR 4.4 million was received as fines.

The Head of the Central Operations Command urged the public to abide by traffic regulations to avoid fines and ensure road safety.

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University students protest over construction of wall

Students of the National University protested on the streets of Male’ on Wednesday over the construction of a wall in the university premises.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that students and faculty members objected when digging for construction of the wall began on the university grounds. The wall was to be built on part of the plot separating the university from the adjacent Jamalludheen School.

The National University’s central administration and some faculties are located at the old premises of Jamalludheen School.

The government however gave 9,000 square feet from the old Jamalludheen plot to the school, which was facing constraints due to lack of space. The plot awarded to the public school was reportedly registered at the City Council last year.

Meanwhile, over a hundred students began demonstrating in front of the faculty of education in the late afternoon on Wednesday, calling on the government to not give over part of the university plot.

The students then marched over to protest in front of City Hall before making their way to Velaanage, which houses most government offices.

When the students attempted to march to Republic Square, officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in front of the coast guard building blocked their path. The protest ended around 6pm.

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MNDF Fire and Rescue Service put out fire in workshop

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Fire and Rescue Service put out a fire that broke out at a workshop in the seven-storey Sun Gold building on Orchid Magu in Male’.

According to the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), the fire was reported at 6:50pm on Thursday evening and FRS arrived in the area three minutes later. No one was injured in the fire, FRS said.

The workshop, located next to Asrafee Bookshop, has an adjoining warehouse. Both the workshop and warehouse are in the ground floor of the Sun Gold building, which is part of Maafanu Unimaage.

Local media meanwhile reported that the Sun Gold building as well as residences in the vicinity were evacuated. The warehouse was reportedly used to store outboard engines, jet skis and chemicals.

An official from Sun Travels Company, which owns the workshop and warehouse, told Sun Online that engines, petrol and other expensive items were stored at the warehouse. The workshop also had equipment used for resin and fibre work, the official said.

The official said that residents on the upper floor of the building were not at home when the fire broke out.

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Court urges strict action against witnesses for changing testimony

The Criminal Court has urged the state to take strict action against prosecution witnesses who change their testimony at court, reports Sun Online.

At Tuesday’s trial on the murder of Ali Shifan, of M. Fairy Corner, the presiding judge said that strict action should be taken against witnesses produced by the state who gave testimony that differed from their statements to the police.

While the witnesses testified at court on Tuesday that they saw Shifan being stabbed, they claimed that none of the six suspects detained by the state were involved in the stabbing.

Based on the testimony, the defence attorney asked the court to dismiss the charges against the accused.

However, the prosecutor objected and requested that the court order police to arrest an additional suspect, Mohamed Mishan Abdul Haadhee, of M. Silver Nest, who had been released.

The judge meanwhile ruled that lack of evidence was not sufficient reason to believe that the accused were not a threat to society. He therefore ordered police to detain Mishan Abdul Haadheen and keep the other accused in detention until the end of the trial.

All six suspects arrested in the murder case denied the charges when they were produced before the Criminal Court in September.

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