Category: News in Brief

180 waste bins donated by China handed over to HDC

The environment ministry has handed over 180 out of 200 waste bins donated by the Chinese government to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for use in Hulhumalé.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the HDC office today, environment minister Thoriq Ibrahim urged residents of Hulhumalé to make use of the bins and keep the beaches and roads of the reclaimed island clean.

The waste bins were handed to HDC under the ministry’s ‘Saafu Raajje’ waste management campaign.

HDC managing director Mohamed Siman said the state-owned company’s goal was to develop Hulhumalé as a “green city.”

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Saudi company studying feasibility of Sharia-compliant resort

Saudia Arabia’s Al Khozoma Management Company is conducting a feasibility study to develop a Sharia-compliant resort in the Maldives.

“It is an Islamic country and fits our philosophy. Also, it’s a preferred destination for Arab and GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] markets, so it makes sense,” the group’s hospitality division vice president Hussein Ali Hatata told Hotelier Middle East.

According to the March 2015 quarterly report by the tourism ministry, tourist arrivals from the Middle East increased by 46.7 percent in the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period last year.

Some 4,120 holidaymakers from the Middle East visited the Maldives this year, representing a market share of 3.7 percent.

In January 2014, the ADK company in association with Turkish hotel giant Caprice Gold announced plans to build the first Islamic resort in the Maldives.

The five-star, 673-room resort was to be built on Shaviyani Atoll Gaakoshibee. However, the two companies reportedly cancelled the agreement late last year.

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Aitken Spence acquires two new resort properties

Aitken Spence Hotels has acquired two new properties in the Maldives for resort development, making the Sri Lankan company the largest foreign resort operator in the country.

According to TTG Asia, Aitken Spence revealed yesterday that it has leased the island of Raafushi in Noonu atoll for US$5 million for the development of a four-star resort.

The company also plans to invest US$50 million to develop a five-star resort with 163 rooms on the island of Aarah in Raa atoll.

The hospitality group also operates resorts in Meedhupparu, Hudhuranfushi, Rannalhi and Vadoo in the Maldives under its Adaaran brand.

Maldives Capital Market Development Authority CEO Ahmed Naseer told Sri Lankan newspaper the Daily Mirror: “We have potential future developments for over 60 islands with about a US$2 billion financing requirement and an airport development with another US $400 million financing requirement.”

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HRCM welcomes talks to resolve political crisis

The human rights watchdog has welcomed the government’s calls for talks with opposition parties to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

In a press statement last night, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) urged all political parties to make good use of the opportunity with sincerity and good faith.

The commission said peace and stability are essential for protecting and promoting human rights, urging all parties to work together and to refrain from actions and rhetoric that incites hatred and animosity among the public.

The HRCM also expressed concern with the assault of police officers as well as complaints of police brutality against opposition protesters.

President Abdulla Yameen extended official invitations for separate talks with the three allied opposition parties last week.

However, the government has ruled out negotiations over the release of imprisoned former President Mohamed Nasheed and former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, whose arrest triggered the current political crisis.

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High Court overturns MDP chairperson’s remand extension

The high court has overturned today the criminal court’s ruling to hold the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s chairperson in police custody.

Ali Waheed was arrested under a court warrant on May 2 for encouraging violence at a historic anti-government protest on May 1.

The criminal court granted a 15-day remand on May 3 and extended the remand for seven additional days on May 17. The court supported the police’s claim that Waheed posed a danger to society.

But the high court judges noted Waheed had no criminal record, and said the police had not been able to provide sufficient reasons to keep him in custody for longer.

Judges also said the criminal court must consider the individual’s rights when extending remand detention and said long periods of pre-trial detention are prohibited by international law.

Waheed was released on Sunday when the remand period expired.

Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla and Jumhooree Party council member Sobah Rasheed, arrested on the same charges, remain in police custody.

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PPM opens campaign meeting hall for Dhiggaru by-election

The Progressive Party of Maldives opened a campaign haruge (meeting hall) in Malé last night ahead of the June 6 by-election for the vacant Dhiggaru constituency parliament seat.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s son, Faris Maumoon, is contesting the by-election as the ruling party candidate.

Speaking at last night’s rally, Gayoom reportedly said that increasing the number of PPM MPs is important for the government to fulfil its pledges and implements its policies.

Gayoom – also PPM leader – noted that the PPM has won the presidential and parliamentary elections as well as 90 percent of council by-elections due to its strong support among the public, but urged the party’s supporters and campaign workers not to take victory for granted.

In his remarks, Faris praised President Abdulla Yameen’s efforts to develop the Dhiggaru constituency as well as the rest of the country and thanked supporters working in his campaign.

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More than 50,800 eligible for Zakat

More than 50,800 people across the country are eligible for Zakat (alms for the poor) this year, the Islamic ministry has revealed.

Zakat is an obligatory alms tax collected from the accumulated wealth of all able Muslims.

Deputy minister for Islamic affairs Dr Aishath Muneeza told the press on Monday that more than 13,000 people in Malé and 37,800 people in other islands are registered as poor.

Muneeza said the ministry plans to distribute MVR20 million (US$1.2 million) before Ramadan at a rate of MVR400 (US$26) per person, noting that the sum was the highest so far.

The ministry collected a record MVR52 million (US$3.3 million) as property Zakat last year. The registered number of poor in 2014 was more than 53,000.

Muneeza noted that Zakat payments can also be made through Dhiraagu and Ooreedoo.

Newly appointed Islamic minister Dr Ahmed Ziyad said at the press conference that renovation work on several mosques across the country will begin next week with a target of completion before Ramadan.

 

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Adhaalath calls for investigation of nude art exhibition

The Adhaalath Party has called on the authorities to investigate and prosecute the Maldivians responsible for a video filmed at the national art gallery depicting Austrian models with body paint.

The video was filmed in March by Austrian company WB Productions as part of an installation art project on violence against women.

The video also shows some models posing with a dead octopus on the beach while others posed topless with body paint and coir rope.

 

In a statement released yesterday, the religious conservative party condemned the MNCCI for inviting “people who work across the world to spread sinful [behaviour],” calling the incident “an atrocity” committed with the intention of turning Maldivians against Islam.

The Austrian team was invited by the vice-president of the Maldivian National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI) Ismail Asif as part of his fourth annual exhibition on women and children’s rights.

 

 

 

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