Category: News in Brief

President meets with founders of Mission Maldives

President Mohamed Nasheed met with the founders of Mission Maldives yesterday afternoon.

Mission Maldives is a voluntary organisation created by three British nationals. Its stated aim is to make voluntary programs in the Maldives more easily available and affordable.

Mission Maldives’ aim is to bring volunteers in the most needed areas, which are those currently lacking in suitable skilled and educated staff.

According to President Nasheed, the government has priority toward promoting greater involvement and contribution of volunteers in the socio-economic and political development of the country.

The organisation already has begun a number of programs with schools in the Maldives.

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Cabinet ratifies accession of Afghanistan to SAFTA

The Cabinet decided yesterday to ratify the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) protocol of accession of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).

The protocol was originally signed by all member states of SAARC in August 2008 in Colombo to enable the accession of Afghanistan to the SAFTA agreement.

Afghanistan joined the SAARC in April 2007, during the 14th SAARC summit held in New Dehli.

Cabinet members also discussed their December 2009 decision on the measures to be taken on islands leased for resort development, which are behind schedule. Members decided to defer the implementation of these measures until the passage of bills concerning the issue, which are currently being considered by the People’s Majlis.

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President Nasheed meets with UNDP regional Director

President Mohamed Nasheed met with UNDP Regional Director at the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Ligia Elizondo yesterday morning at the President’s Office.

President Nasheed and Elizondo discussed the UNDP projects in the Maldives. The president said that due to issues with project management, completion of a number of development projects had been delayed.

President Nasheed noted the importance of having a central project management office and sought technical assistance from UNDP to strengthen project management, project monitoring and ensuring projects would be to the greatest benefit to the people of the Maldives.

Elizondo assured the president that the UNDP would continue their assistance to the government of the Maldives and offered further assistance and advise to the government on development projects and their implementation.

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Hulhumale residents protest against lack of doctors

Hulhumale residents have held a demonstration against a lack of specialist doctors at Hulhumale hospital, reports Miadhu.

MP for Hulhuhenveiru Moosa Maniku told TVM that the health ministry was struggling to attract doctors because of the change in salaries, but added that a volunteer doctor from Britain would arrive later in February.

Moosa also said the hospital was trying to reach a specialist-sharing arrangement with Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

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Laptops stolen from house

Three laptops and other electronic items were stolen from a residence occupied by foreigners in S Maradhoo last night.

A 17 year old man was taken into police custody over the incident, but has since been released.

Officers from Gan police found the stolen items among trees on the beach side of the island, police reported.

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New ambassador of Slovak Republic meets President Nasheed

The new ambassador of Slovak Republic to the Maldives, Marián Tomášik, has presented his credentials to President Mohamed Nasheed at a ceremony held at the President’s Office yesterday afternoon.

The president and new ambassador discussed bilateral relations and the strengthening of ties between the two countries. Enhancing tourism cooperation between the two nations was a priority.

President Nasheed also mentioned the Maldives seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council, and sought support of the Slovak Republic in achieving candidature. The president said human rights was the main agenda of the democratic reforms in the Maldives.

Ambassador Tomášik assured the president of his “full commitment” for further strengthening relations between both countries.

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President tells IMF economic reforms will continue

President Mohamed Nasheed has informed the IMF that the government will continue its program to reduce public sector expenditure.

He met with the IMF’s Deputy Director for the Asia Pacific Region, Dr Kalpana Kochhar, at the President’s Office yesterday.

President Nasheed noted that the government has an agreement with the Civil Service Commission to reduce salaries due to the “extraordinary economic circumstances facing the country.”

The president also discussed the proposed taxation reforms which is being considered by the People’s Majlis.

Dr Kochhar assured the president of the IMF’s support for the government’s manifesto program.

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Maldivians ready to open up the economy, says president

Maldivians are starting to see the benefits of opening up the economy for private investments, said President Mohamed Nasheed, speaking at the Regional Export Awards presentation ceremony of Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India, held at Kurumba Maldives yesterday evening.

President Nasheed said until recently the Maldivian economy has been very centralised and heavily regulated, and this had “prevented growth, repelled investment and thwarted people’s aspirations.”

The president mentioned the reforms in the Indian economy, which he said were strengthening the country’s economy and lifting millions out of poverty.

Highlighting the importance of foreign investment, he mentioned the benefits of the agreement with Apollo Hospitals of India, which are investing US$125 million to reform Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

He said the government has successfully attracted foreign investors to invest in housing, electricity and energy programmes, and how private investors are at the forefront of the new transport system that will connect all inhabited islands with ferry services.

The Maldives Partnership Forum IV, a conference giving international investors the chance to visit the country and invest in its development, will be held in March.

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