Category: News in Brief

DPRS announces Rf28 million prison renovation project

The Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) will spend Rf 28 million (US$1.8 million) renovating Maafushi Prison, Himmafushi Prison and Male’ Prison, reports Haveeru.

The Finance Ministry would soon open the project to bids, State Minister for Home Affairs Mohamed ‘Monaza’ Naeem was reported as saying.

“Rf17 million (US$1.1 million) is needed to renovate Maafushi prison while Rf4 million (US$260,000) is needed to build a reception area and make other repairs,” Naeem said. “An additional Rf7 million (US$454,000) is needed to build a fence, gate and establish other services for inmates at Himmafushi Prison.”

The renovations would include healthcare and rehabilitation centres, he added.

The Maldives prison population is 800, with around 600 participating in rehabilitation programs.

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President meets families and students at Hiriya following drowning deaths

President Mohamed Nasheed this morning met with the students and teachers at Hiriya School, following the drowning deaths last Friday of four of the school’s students and its principal.

The five drowned during a school fisheries science expedition to Huraa on the morning of Friday 9. None of the students could swim, and principal Ali Nazim drowned attempting to rescue them when they were caught in deep water.

Nasheed, who phoned each family personally following the incident – the country’s deadliest incident since the 2004 tsunami – met with the families individually today. Media was barred from the meetings.

Nasheed subsequently issued reassurances that cabinet had appointed a committee to determine emergency measures to prevent a repeat of the incident.

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GMR launches new website for Ibrahim Nasir International Airport

A new website has been launched for Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, with features such as live flight information and an online booking system to facilitate flight, hotel and resort bookings.

In a statement, airport developer GMR said the new website “hosts innovative ways to boost the entire travel experience for passengers and is designed keeping in mind the customer’s expectations with easy navigation and important information accessibility.”

The site also includes information such as travel tips and things to do in the Maldives for first time passengers, and for airlines, a dedicated section focusing on available services and various charges.

The website also includes a ‘Career Opportunities’ tab “which will help the local population find current openings at the airport,” the developer said.

Airport CEO Andrew Harrison said GMR had “looked at making the website more interactive and informative, keeping in mind the passengers’ needs and preferences. We believe that this technologically advanced yet simple-to-navigate website will make the airport experience better for every traveller”.

The new site is located at www.maldivesairport.aero

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Alliance Française opens “Women’s World” photography exhibition

The Alliance Française is launching a “Planète Femmes” (“Women’s World”) photography exhibition on Thursday evening at 8:00pm at the National Art Gallery.

The photos are the product of a free-to-enter amateur photography contest organised by Alliance Française with the participation of the magazine Courrier International.

Participants were asked to show a representation of women in their corresponding cultures.

This exhibition is scheduled to remain open everyday (except Friday and Saturday) from 10:00pm to 4:00pm until September 22.

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Fishermen found dead

Police have recovered the body of man who went net fishing from Hulhumale last night, reports Haveeru.

The 52 year-old man, identified as Mohamed Sameer, was brought to Hulhumale at 3am in a police speedboat. After hearing cries, police rescued a 59 year-old man, Ali Manikufaanu, police stated.

Manikufaanu was transferred to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in a critical condition.

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SAARC carnival planning underway

A South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Carnival will complement the November SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Addu City and Fuvammulah, President Mohamed Nasheed said in his radio address last weekend.

Various exhibitions and cultural events by local and regional groups are being planned for the carnival, which scheduled for the first two weeks of November.

Preparations for the SAARC summit have brought new infrastructure and development to Addu. The president said the summit would also give greater exposure to development projects and business ventures in the Maldives, and create new markets for Maldivian exports.

The two-day SAARC summit, grouping eight nations, will open on November 10.

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South Asia Regional Task Force formed to promote use of renewable energy

A South Asian Regional Task Force (RTF) to promote use of renewable energy in the subcontinent has been formed to “facilitate public private partnership (PPP) to exchange information and views in an open atmosphere for developing specific projects in South Asia”.

Minister of Housing and Environment Mohamed Aslam called for the formation of a task force at the third meeting of the Asia Solar Energy Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand earlier this year, organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Addressing participants at the first meeting of the RTF currently taking place in Jodhpur, India, Minister Aslam said that the government’s goal was to generate 60 percent of power used in the Maldives from solar energy. Projects have been planned for three islands and are ready for implementation, he said.

In a statement to the RTF’s first newsletter, Aslam noted that solar energy power has “the best potential to reach grid parity in a timely manner.”

“Although the private sector has a great appetite to enter South Asia market, noting the strong commitment of the host countries’ governments, there are information and perception gaps on the policy and regulatory framework, technology transfer, and financial aspects,” reads Aslam statement. “To overcome these barriers, the close coordination, communication, and collaboration in an open atmosphere are needed at the stages of designing, construction and implementation among the policy makers, regulators, utilities, private sectors, e.g., technology providers, developers, and financiers, multilateral and bilateral agencies.

“RTF is to be formulated in order to exchange information and views among the various stakeholders to design, develop, and implement specific projects in a timely manner. RTF should be independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-political and technology neutral. In this regard, we welcome if Asian Development Bank can participate in RTF, as an honest broker.”

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Committee to set emergency safety measures

The Cabinet appointed a ministerial committee to set emergency safety measures yesterday. The issue was raised after four students and the principal of Hiriya School drowned during a snorkeling excursion in Kaafu atoll Huraa last Friday.

Discussions addressed appropriate emergency preparedness and responsiveness in a crisis, and emphasised the need for the full cooperation from all concerned agencies.

The committee is chaired by Minister of Defence and National Security, Thalhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu, and consists of Minister of Home Affairs Hassan Afeef, Minister of Transport and Communication Mohamed Adil Saleem, Minister of Housing and Environment Mohamed Aslam, Minister of Education Shifa Mohamed and Minister of Health and Family Dr Aminath Jameel.

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Speedboat Hulhumale’ ferry service introduced

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has introduced speedboat ferry services between Male’ and Hulhumale’.

Haveeru reported that the speedboat has a capacity of 17-passengers and will make a round trip every 30 minutes.

“A speedboat ride from Male to Hulhumale will take seven minutes. We will increase the speedboats depending on the demand,” Transport Services Department Manager Adam Zaki said.

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