Category: News in Brief

Opposition groups back national anti-piracy stance

Political opposition the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Jumhooree Party (JP) have pledged to cooperate with the government in pursuing anti-piracy campaigns within the country’s waters, according to reports.

During a joint press conference held yesterday afternoon, Miadhu reported that both parties expressed concern about expanding activity from Somali pirates that they claim is getting closer to Maldivian shores.

Gasim Ibrahim, leader of the JP, claimed that piracy within Maldivian territorial waters represents a major threat to the nation and its lucrative tourism and fisheries sectors.

“There are many challenges to the tourism industry even now. Though it might be that the number of tourists has increased, the tourists come here with special discounts,” he said at the conference.  “Therefore, if the tourism industry is further undermined then the economy will be destabilised,”

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Government pledges to step up community-led decision making

A “Community Cabinet” has been established by the government in a move it has claimed will help bring more direct links between its work and local people.

The government specifically hopes to make greater use of public opinion in its decision making by travelling out to local and more far-flung island communities.

Along with direct discussion, the President’s Office said it was also considering making greater use of computers and online communication technology like social network sites to speed up communication with the public.  Popular sites like Facebook and Twitter are expected to be used as part of the focus.

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Asian chef contest to return to Male’ in 2011: report

The Hotel Asia Maldives International Culinary Challenge will return to Male’ in 2011 to bring together award winning chefs from across Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Mauritius and the Phillipines to find unique Asian flavours and recipes.

Miadhu reported that the event, which is scheduled to take place in the capital between 14 July and 16 July, 2011, is now in its seventh year and will be overseen by chef Alan Palmer, who is also a member of the World Association of Chefs Society (WACS). The report added that some 400 chefs are hoped to attend next year’s challenge.

About 300 chefs were in attendance for the 2010 Hotel Asia Maldives International Culinary Challenge event that saw an international panel of judges come to Male’ to oversee 13 different competition categories relation to cuisine.

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Island Aviation braces for GMR handover earnings hit: report

Last week’s handover of Male’ International Airport to infrastructure giant GMR could cost airline group Island Aviation Services (IAS) as much as Rf90m in a one-off annual loss based on the company’s own estimates, according to news reports.

As of November 24, 2010, a number of operations handled by IAS such as international cargo, ground handling and domestic passenger services were taken over by GMR as part of a long-term expansion programme it has undertaken at the transport hub.

Speaking to Haveeru, IAS Managing Director ‘Bandu’ Ibrahim Saleem said that the loss of the operations was expected by the group to be initially substantial to overall operations.

“Some claim that it would be a very small amount. But it is not. Despite the fact that several employees are leaving us we are still determined to take the company forward. But at this point we need to make some sacrifices,” he told the newspaper.

“We do not want to complain about the change in this situation. I thank all those who instructed the employees. All the employees who are leaving us today are faithful to the nation and are dedicated.”

Saleem claimed that the financial impact of handing over the operations to GMR was expected to be felt next year as a one-off hit to the group’s earnings.

In looking to IAS’ future though, the company’s Managing Director was optimistic that proposals it has submitted to the government in relation to Kaadehdhoo Airport reflected potentially lucrative new avenues for the company to explore, according to the report.

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GMR’s airport segment grows with Male’ Airport acquisition

The airport segment of Indian infrastructure giant GMR has grown become a significant contributor to the company’s revenue, reports financial news website India Infoline, with both the Delhi and Hyderabad airports witnessing stable growth in passenger and cargo volumes.

The company’s airport segment accounts for 40 percent of the firm’s total revenue. With the Male’ airport operations already profitable and with high passenger revenue of $US50 per passenger (compared with US$12 and US$17 per passenger at Delhi and Hyderabad airports), the existing revenue is expected to account for a third of the company’s airport operations.

Male’ International Airport generated US$135 million in revenue last year, Infoline reported, with an operating profit of US$30 million. Being an exotic tourist destination, “air traffic in Male is expected to be steady”, the site added.

GMR has taken debt of US$358 million to complete US$511 million deal to construct a new terminal, and will charge an extra US$25 per passenger, the site reported.

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Two Maldivians arrested in Trivandrum for drug smuggling

A pair of Maldivians have been arrested in Trivandrum Airport for allegedly trying to traffic drugs to the Maldives.

Haveeru reported that 24 year-old Mohamed Waheed Adam and a 14 year-old were arrested on Sunday.

The newspaper reported that the two Maldivians attempted to boarded a flight at 12:30pm flight on Sunday were being held in the airport after illegal drugs were allegedly found in the child’s baggage. The Malayalam newspaper also reported that hash oil was found hidden in the child’s trousers.

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Maldivian and US servicewomen talk defense challenges

Servicewomen from the US Navy and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) last week got together to discuss their respective roles, Miadhu has reported.

Female sailors serving on the Naval vessel, the USS Momson, met with counterparts from across the Maldives’ police, border security and defense forces to share experiences on the individual challenges they have faced in their careers, the paper said.

According to the report, the US representatives also discussed their feelings on serving away from home all over the globe.

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Government set to limit coolant gas emissions: report

Limitations on imports of hydro-chlorofluorcarbons (HCFC), gases used in certain manufacturing and refrigeration processes, have been set at 67 metric tonnes for 2011 by the Ministry of Housing and Environment as part of the country’s environmental commitments, according to press reports.

Miadhu reported that the Environment Ministry has publically announced the annual restrictions as part of a new permit system designed to be awarded exclusively to a selected number of parties due to be decided during an upcoming bidding process.

As part of the government’s commitment to trying to become carbon neutral by 2020 and wider global eco-policies such as part of the so-called Montreal Protocol, which targets a reduction in substances linked to reducing the Ozone Layer, use of HCFCs in the Maldives is set to be phased out.

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MDP puts forward 1024 candidates for local council elections

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will present 1024 candidates for the local council elections in February, the party has announced following a National Assembly meeting at its headquarters yesterday.

The ruling party will field 769 candidates for island councils, 138 for atoll councils, 11 for Male city council and six for Addu city council.

“We are facing difficulties in finalising the ticket in a very few islands,” a party official reportedly told newspaper Haveeru. “That is because of the high number of candidates and some people withdrawing their names.”

The election is scheduled for February 5, 2011.

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