Category: News in Brief

Police sign cooperation agreement with Australian Federal Police

The Maldives Police Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) last week to combat transnational crime and develop cooperation between the countries.

At a function held at the police headquarters, the MoU was signed on behalf of the AFP by Commissioner Tony Segus and Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh on behalf of the Maldives.

The MoU is expected to strengthen the existing professional relationship between the law enforcement agencies.

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Night market concludes

The annual night market organised by the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) drew to a close last night.

Newspaper Haveeru reports that some stalls gave away commodities for free while others sold goods at much lower rates than market prices. The market was held at the the tsunami memorial area at the eastern end of Male’ with 450 tables and took place from July 10 to 22.

According to local businesses, each stall made between Rf8,000 (US$500) and Rf15,000 (US$970) a night with kitchen utensils among the most popular items ahead of the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.

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MIRA “will not back down” over unpaid resort rents: Commissioner General of Taxation

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) “will not back down” or hesitate to take legal measures against resorts with outstanding rents and fines.

Commissioner General of Taxation Yazeed Mohamed told newspaper Haveeru today that “even if the Tourism Ministry does not take measures, MIRA will fulfill its legal responsibilities.”

MIRA is currently pursuing cases at the Civil Court against a number of tourist facilities to recover unpaid rents.

The Tourism Ministry last week warned 10 resorts with outstanding rents and fines to settle at least 25 percent of debts to the state by Wednesday this week, or face revoking or withholding of operating licenses.

Following deliberations by the cabinet, the ministry gave a 90-day notice as “a last warning” on July 12 for the tourist facilities to pay the overdue amounts in full.

However according to a press statement issued by the ministry yesterday, the government has decided not to enforce the threat of revoking licenses after the resorts appealed for leniency, citing global economic turmoil and difficulties in paying large sums in a short period.

According to the press statement, the decision was made after the tourist businesses provided a schedule for making the payments in installments over a course of time. Neither the proposed deadline nor the length of the extension was specified in the statement.

Commissioner General Yazeed meanwhile revealed that only three out of the 10 resorts had paid 25 percent of the outstanding rent and fines as of yesterday. The three resorts that complied after the Tourism Ministry’s “last warning” were Park Hyatt, Six Senses Laamu and Huvadhumafushi.

Haveeru reports that resorts with unpaid rent and fines include those owned by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ahmed Hamza and Economic Advisor to the President Ali Shiyam. Other resorts on the list include Zitali Resort and Spa, owned by Hamza’s brother Moosa Shiyam; Giraavaru Tourist Resort, owned by Abdul Rauf, M. Sun Rose; and resorts owned by Yacht Tours, whose chairman and former MP Abdulla Jabir is a candidate for the post of MDP chairperson.

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High Court orders stay of Thulhaadhoo by-election

The High Court yesterday ordered a stay of the by-election announced by the Elections Commission (EC) for August 20 to replace dismissed Councillor Umaira Abubakur.

The appeal court ordered EC to postpone the by-election until the court ruled on the legality of her dismissal, which was contested by the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) on behalf of its councillor.

Umaira was dismissed for failing to attend ten consecutive council meetings while she was attending a training workshop for newly-elected councillors.

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Z-DRP opens new office for former President Gayoom

The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Z-faction opened its new office in Male’ this morning for use by the party’s ‘Honorary Leader’ (Zaeem) former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Gayoom told press at the function that a number of people from Male’ and the atolls had requested meetings with him and invited party members and supporters to seek appointments at the new Z-DRP office.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Gayoom expressed gratitude to benefactors who arranged to pay rent as well as salaries for staff. The former president also thanked DRP Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed and Umar Naseer for their efforts.

The Z-DRP office is located on Bodhuthakurufaanumagu a short distance from the official DRP office. The party marks its sixth anniversary today with separate events by the two factions led by the former president and his successor Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

To kick off the activities of the new opposition coalition after breaking off from the main opposition DRP, the Z-faction announced a rally tonight at artificial beach, with former President Gayoom in attendance.

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Expatriate worker dies of dengue

An expatriate worker has died of dengue haemorrhagic fever, after being infected on Konottaa in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll.

The 37 year-old Indian national died during treatment at Thinadhoo Regional Hospital.

“He died of dengue shock syndrome less than three hours into treatment,” hospital overseer Aminath Abdul Hakeem told Haveeru.

Five more workers from the island tested positive to the disease, and were treated at the hospital.

Meanwhile, a team from Thinadhoo was dispatched to destroy breeding grounds and fog the island, which is being developed as a resort.

Nine people have died of the mosquito-borne disease this year.

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Rock Paper Scissors to play in Olympus backyard on July 27

Well known local rock band ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ (RPS) are planning a music show with a slight difference.

The show to be held on July 27 at the Olympus backyard compound will be different to most music shows held in Male’, said band member Akif Rafeeq.

“We chose this venue because of its relative smaller size, we want to create a more intimate experience for our fans, and have a bit more crowd interaction,” he said.

The bands aims to have around 300 to 350 fans turn up for the show.

Another famous band in Male’ hugely popular with youth, ‘1 Knight Stand’ will also be playing on the night.

Rock Paper Scissors were formed in 2009 and are probably most well known for winning the 2009 Maldives Breakout Festival. The band has since played internationally including the 2010 O2 Arena showcase in the UK as well as headlining the 2010 Malaysian Breakout Festival.

Tickets will be available at Music World, Time Zone and at Olympus.

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Nasheed meets President of Asian Chess Federation

President Mohamed Nasheed has met with the President of the Asian Chess Federation, Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan, reports the President’s office.

“Sheikh Sultan Al-Nehyan and President Nasheed shared ideas on ways to implement chess as a sport in schools, and to further encourage the younger generations to take part in chess tournaments,” the President’s office said in a statement.

Nasheed invited the Asian Chess Federation to hold an international chess tournament in the Maldives, upon Sheikh Sultan Al-Nehyan’s request.

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World must prepare for the deterritorialised state: NYT

Rising sea levels could threaten the existence of small island states such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives. If the international community cannot or will not slow global warming, the least it can do is help those states prepare for life after land by recognizing a new category of state — the deterritorialised state, writes Rosemary Rayfuse for the New York Times.

“If we do nothing and these nations become uninhabitable, their citizens will not only become displaced persons seeking refuge in other countries; they will also lose control of their vast maritime zones, including valuable fisheries and mineral deposits, which will likely become the property of neighboring states or the global commons.

“A few solutions have already been offered. Disappearing states could try to acquire territory from another state. However, no other government is likely to give up some of its land, no matter the price. The construction of artificial islands has also been proposed, but the financial, engineering, cultural and legal challenges may be insurmountable. The best scenario under current international law appears to be for disappearing states to enter into some form of federation with another state. However, a merger would threaten their cultural identities and likely oblige them to relinquish control over their resources.”

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