Category: News in Brief

Villa air to commence domestic flights next Saturday

Media have reported that Villa Air will commence domestic flights to Male’-Maamigili and Maamigili-Male’ next Saturday.

Until next year, the flights will operate from Male’ to Maamigili in South Ari Atoll and Maamigli to Male’ and next year the company is planning to operate flights to Laamu Atoll and Haa Dhaalu Atoll.

Villa is owned by Jumhoory Party leader and MP ‘Burma’ Gasim Ibrahim and Maamigili is his motherland.

The airport in Maamigili was constructed by Villa.

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Richard Branson, Edward Norton to speak at Soneva Fushi symposium

Billionaire Sir Richard Branson and American actor Edward Norton are among global environment leaders set to speak at the Six Senses Slow Life symposium at Soneva Fushi resort.

Apart from keynote speaker President Mohamed Nasheed, other speakers at the event include Jonathan Porrit from Forum for the Future and Tim Smit of the Eden Project.

The third annual environment conference is due to place from October 6 to 9 and will “bring together the leading minds in the fields of business, sustainability and environmental issues with globally-influential policy-makers and heads of state,” according to a press release from Six Senses.

“Sir Richard has been invited to talk about the challenge of a changing environment to his business portfolio. He will discuss the need for the Virgin empire to evolve rapidly to meet these changes and the steps he is already taking in his businesses and through organisations like the Carbon War Room,” it reads. “Sir Richard will be discussing alternative fuel sources and new technologies to power Virgin’s fleet of trains and aircrafts and how we need to adapt our buildings to meet the challenges of rising fossil fuel prices and to stem carbon emissions.

“Edward Norton will discuss the benefits that the tourism industry can bring to local eco-systems, wildlife and communities.  He will take examples from large wildlife reserves that might otherwise be developed as mines or farms and the mutual benefit of supporting communities to protect their local environment.”

Sonu Shivdasani, chairman and CEO of Six Senses Resorts and Spas, meanwhile noted that the the tourism industry did not have a “road map to decarbonise.”

“It is our ambition to provide that roadmap for the industry and the SLOW LIFE Symposium is a key part of our mission to achieve that goal,” he said.

“In its third year, the Symposium continues to bring together the finest minds in the world to develop practical and inspiring solutions to how we can reduce our impact on our fragile ecosystems.”

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ACC investigating second Supreme Court Justice

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations that over Rf50,000 (US$3,200) of state funds was spent on plane tickets for Supreme Court Justice Ali Hameed’s official visit to China in December last year.

Haveeru reported that according to the person who filed the complaint, Hameed also visited Sri Lanka and Malaysia both before and after his trip to China to attend a conference by the International Council of Jurists.

While there are currently flights between Male’ and Beijing, a return ticket costs Rf16,686 (US$1,080).

Last week, a similar complaint was lodged at the ACC alleging that Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Saeed visited his native Addu City on an official visit during a four-day government holiday for Eid.

The Supreme Court meanwhile informed Haveeru that the Finance Ministry approved expenses for the trip after the Supreme Court Justice was invited to participate in the conference.

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Israeli airlines will be licensed upon request: Transport Ministry

Israeli airlines are allowed operating licenses for the Maldives upon request, according to an agreement made between the two countries in 1993 and Israel’s membership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Only a parliament-endorsed resolution can block an airline license, reports Haveeru.

Transport Minister Adil Saleem told local media that the ministry had decided to approve Israeli national carrier, El Al Israel Airlines, after the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit this November.

El Al applied for a license to operate flights to and from the Maldives every Tuesday starting December 13, Haveeru reports.

Earlier, El Al’s subsidiary airline Israeli Sun D’Or International applied to charter flights to the Maldives. Its request was denied by Maldivian authorities after Israeli Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revoked the airlines’ operating license because it “did not comply with international standards.”


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MNDF searching for army deserters

An undeclared number of servicemen have deserted the armed forces and are subject to penalty according to the Armed Forces Act. The servicemen are currently being searched for by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The search is being considered a special operation under the Armed Forces Act, reports Haveeru.

The decision to take action against servicemen who leave service without permission or warning was made last year by the Defence Ministry, which cited the Armed Forces Act as point of reference.

Article 32(b) states that a serviceman is deemed absent without leave where he fails to report for work for 14 days without authorisation, or where he fails to report to work or objects to report to work where an order is given in accordance with the Act by a superior in an emergency.

The act outlines penalties including arrest of various duration, fines, termination of service, institutional proceedings, and others outlined in subsequent regulations.


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MTCC backtracks on decision to hike ferry ticket prices

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has decided not to hike ferry ticket prices for Hulhumale’ and ViliMale’, according to local media reports.

Male’ City Mayor ‘Maizan’ Ali Manik told press today that the decision was made following discussions between the city council, MTCC and the Transport Ministry.

Manik also revealed that the council would grant permission for MTCC to utilise plots awarded to the government company in Male’ to generate revenue and cover current operating losses.

The decision to hike ferry tickets from Rf3 to Rf5 for ViliMale’ and from Rf5 to Rf8 led to protests in both island wards of the capital. Riot police were deployed over the weekend after protestors stopped the ferries in ViliMale’.

Speaking at a press conference this week, Transport Minister Adhil Saleem insisted that the government “would not tolerate stoppages” and that such forced disruptions as part of protests were “non-negotiable.”

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Over 400 forms issued for Rf500 million loan scheme for stalled construction

The Ministry of Housing issued over 400 forms yesterday for applicants to the Rf500 million (US$32 million) loan scheme for houses in Male’ with stalled construction, reports Haveeru.

State Minister Akram Kamaaludeen said that the deadline for applications has been extended from November 5 to 15 and the ministry has decided not to require applicants to submit engineering reports after considering the cost of preparing the report.

“The applicant will have to submit the engineering report once they’ve been qualified for the loan. The loan will be issued once the report is submitted,” he explained.

The loans will target owners who are unable to continue construction due to financial constraints or ineligibility for loan schemes offered either by the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) or domestic banks.

The maximum amount given to each individual will be Rf3 million, which should be paid within 15 years after a grace period of one year with an interest rate of 11.75 percent per year.

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Missile destroyer USS Russell to visit Gan

US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Russell will visit Gan September 28-30.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Colombo said the visit was “a routine port visit and is intended to provide the sailors of the USS Russell an opportunity for engagement with their Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) counterparts and for cultural exchange.”

“This US Navy port visit promotes peace and stability in the Western Pacific region, demonstrates the US commitment to regional partners such as the Maldives, and fosters a growing relationship. This strong relationship between the United States and the Maldives helps advance many common interests including mutual security, prosperity and the promotion of freedom.”

Activities planned with the sailors include sharing tea with local high school students, and learning how to cook traditional Maldivian dishes.

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Missing student found serving drug abuse sentence in Malaysian jail

A Maldivian student reported missing in Malaysia has been found the Maldives High Commission serving a 10-month prison sentence for drug abuse, Haveeru reports.

The student allegedly dropped out of university soon after enrolling, before being arrested and sentence to jail. He is due to be released in December 2011.

The High Commission told Haveeru that the student was the only Maldivian serving a sentence in a Malaysian jail.

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