Category: News in Brief

Dhivehi Language Academy inaugurated

President Mohamed Nasheed has inaugurated a Dhivehi Language Academy to promote, preserve and study the origins and usage of the Dhivehi language.

Nasheed appointed five members to the Academy: Nu-uma Abdul Raheem, Rafia Abdul Gadir, Mohamed Amir Ahmed, Zeenath Ahmed Dhanbu Suthulige, and Ashraf Ali, stating that their appointment reflected their “skill and dedication to linguistics”.

During the inaugration ceremony held at the National Art Gallery, Nasheed urged members of the Academy “to be broad minded and open to adaptation of foreign concepts while dealing with the study of creation and evolution of Dhivehi language over a period of time in history,” according to a statement from the President’s Office.

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Finance Secretary Ahmed Mausoom appointed President’s Chief of Staff

President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday appointed Ahmed Mausoom as Chief of Staff of the President’s Office, the country’s highest administrative authority and a post with the same rank as Minister.

As Chief of Staff, Mausoom will direct the daily functions of the President’s Office under the President and Vice President.

Mausoom was formerly Finance Secretary, a post he has held since Nasheed assumed office on November 11, 2008.

A founding member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mausoom lived in exile in Sri Lanka for many years prior to being granted political asylum in the UK in 2004. He returned to the Maldives in 2006 to promote political reform in the country alongside then-opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed.

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President visits exhibition featuring his portrait at National Art Gallery

President Mohamed Nasheed has visited an exhibition of work by Maldivian artist Abdulla Nashaath that opened at the National Art Gallery last month.

The exhibition of 95 works, titled “Nashaath – Skill and Realism through Pencil”, includes a portrait of President Nasheed.

Nashaath has used pencil to draw portraits of local and international celebrities. In a statement on the President’s Office website, Nashaath said that “paving the way and expressing my thoughts” is important to strengthen the  fundamentals of the infant stages of democracy in Maldives.

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MPs debate motion without notice on Dhiyamigili blackout

A partisan row erupted in parliament today during a debate on a motion without notice proposed by minority opposition Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed condemning a four-day long electricity blackout in Thaa Atoll Dhiyamigili.

Today’s sitting was adjourned at 12:00pm after several MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) objected to the motion as the damaged engine at the Dhiyamigili powerhouse had been repaired and electricity was back on at 4.10am this morning. MP Ali Mohamed, presiding over the sitting in the absence of Speaker Abdulla Shahid, adjourned the sitting after heated rows broke out in the chamber.

Under parliamentary rules, motions without notice could be submitted to open the floor to an impromptu debate on issues of national importance. However because besides offering MPs an opportunity to voice their views, no concrete action results from a motion without notice, MDP MPs argued that such motions were “a waste of Majlis’ time.”

Presenting the motion, MP Riyaz Rasheed urged the people of Dhiyamigili to sue the utility company for compensation as refrigerated foodstuff had been damaged in the island.

Riyaz’s Thaa Atoll colleague, MDP MP Mohamed Musthafa meanwhile alleged that Home Minister Hassan Afeef was behind the blackout and urged the people of Dhiyamigili to “chase out the utility company employees.”

Other MDP MPs however pointed out that MP Riyaz Rasheed’s company Meridian Service was being sued by the State Trading Organisation (STO) to recover over Rf19 million (US$1.4 million) owed for oil released on credit as well as Rf384,198 (US$29,800) as fines for non-payment.

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Police jeep crashes into house

A police jeep providing security for a State Electricity Company (STELCO) van collided with a motorbike and a car, swerved out of control and crashed into a wall this morning.

Sun Online reports that according to eyewitnesses the collision occurred when the car slid in between the police jeep and STELCO van.

Following the initial accident, the jeep backed into the STELCO entrance area and hit a parked motorbike on its way out. The jeep then lost control and crashed into the wall of a nearby house, which was reportedly not damaged.

While eyewitnesses claimed that the police jeep driver fainted upon impact, police have not confirmed any details as an investigation is ongoing.

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All resorts subscribed to pension scheme

The Maldives Pension Administration Office has subscribed every resort in the Maldives to the government’s new pension scheme with the recent inclusion of Lily Beach Resort and Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi, reports Haveeru.

Employers will be obligated to allocate pensions for privately employed local workers from May, and will face fines for non-compliance.

“We are now calling noteworthy companies out of those that haven’t participated in the scheme. There are also some companies that have registered but not enlisted employees in the scheme,” Haveeru reported Pension Office Director Ismail Shujau as saying.

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Man killed in Hulhumale traffic accident

A 41 year-old man died yesterday after his motorcycle collided with a truck in Hulhumale, reports Haveeru.

Ahmed Nasir, Managing Director of Vertical Constructions, died instantly on colliding with a vehicle belonging to the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Another man who was riding on the back of the motorcycle, Managing Director of Ell Mobile Mohamed Sharath, suffered spinal injuries and is being flown to Sri Lanka for treatment, Haveeru reported.

Police are investigating the incident.

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Lease agreement revoked for five islands

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries last month revoked the lease agreements for five islands rented for economic or industrial purposes.

Haveeru reports that the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority’s (MIRA) recommendation to revoke the licenses was prompted by non-payment of rent and fines going back to 2005.

The islands include Shaviyani Ekasdhu (Rf12 million), Noonu Kalhaidhu (Rf8 million), Noonu Bandaidhihdhu (Rf9 million), Baa Maa Maduvvari (Rf5.9 million) and Gaaf Alif Fonahdhu (Rf1.7 million).

According to Haveeru, MIRA sent notices to Zuleyha Hafeez, Manager of Shaviyani Ekasdhoo, Moosa Naseer, Manager of Noonu Bandaidhihdhu, Noonu Kalhaidhu Manager Adam Naseer, Maduvvari Investment which manages Baa Maa Maduvvari and Abdulla Abdul Azeez who manages Gaaf Alif Fonahdhu.

An official from MIRA said that in addition to revoking licenses the owners would be sued for non-compliance with the lease agreements.

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MIRA recovers over Rf125 million owed to state

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has recovered over Rf125 million (US$8.1 million) in outstanding debts owed to the state during its first year of operation.

Speaking at a ceremony last night to celebrate MIRA’s first anniversary, Commissioner General of Taxation Yazeed Mohamed said that recovering the outstanding debts was one of its main achievements in the past year as the institution had “given up hope” of collecting the money.

Yazeed said that MIRA was able to recover Rf125 million from debts that it was prepared to write off due to the “sincere efforts of the enforcement team,” according to local media reports.

MIRA has filed 11 cases at court to recover unpaid rents and fines, said Yazeed, three of which were ongoing while an additional two cases have been settled out of court.

An audit report of the former department of inland revenue released in October 2009 revealed that it had failed to collect over Rf1.1 billion (US$85 million) in unpaid taxes, resort rent and fines.

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