Category: News in Brief

Schwack targets Maldives ad shakeup with screen service launch

Schwack Maldives plans to roll out promotional television screens detailing ferry times, current doctor duties at local hospitals, dollar exchange rates and news across the Maldives after launching the technology exclusively in Male’ this week.

According to the company, the Schwack Connections initiative was launched with 13 screens at seven restaurants and cafes around Male’, with further launches planned both within the capital and at a number of destinations like Addu Atoll.

Schwack Maldives’ Director Althaf Mohamed claimed that amidst present financial uncertainty in the Maldives,  the service was an entirely new way for business to advertise services and products in the country.

The screened information is designed to combine advertising and news with health information, trivia and even celebrity tweets and other social network updates, according to the company.

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Cemetery used for sex and drugs, says Council, demolishing walls

The walls of the cemetery in Maafaanu have been demolished by Male’ City Council, reports Haveeru, after the Council received complaints that the area was being used for sex and drug dealing.

“Public complaints were received about widespread abuse and trade of illegal drugs and inappropriate sexual activities carried out inside Maafannu Cemetery,” Deputy Mayor Ahmed Shamah told Haveeru. We will expose those places.”

Shamah said the Council would observe the impact of opening the area on the local drug trade and then determine whether to demolish the walls of other cemeteries in the city.

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Rufiya world’s second worst-performing currency: Bloomberg

International financial news agency Bloomberg has reported that the Maldivian rufiya is the world’s second worst-performing currency, after the Suriname dollar and above the Kenyan shilling.

The Maldives has been faced with a shortage of foreign currency for over a year due to a high budget deficit, spiralling state budget, economic disconnect from the high-earning tourism industry and political obstacles to reducing expenditure or implementing tax reform.

Earlier this year the government introduced a managed float of the currency within 20 percent of the pegged rate of Rf12.85 to the dollar, in a bid to overcome black market currency trading. The exchange rate shot to the maximum permitted Rf15.42, where it remains, and convertibility of the currency into dollars remains sporadic.

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Maldives to receive up to US$30 million in alternative energy funding

The Maldives will receive up to US$30 million from the Climate Investment Fund (CIF)’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP) to pilot renewable energy, the President’s office has stated.

CIF said the Maldives could potentially access a further US$60 million in reserve, following the CIF 2011 Partnership Forum being held in Cape Town, South Africa.

“The CIF’s Strategic Climate Fund gives priority to highly vulnerable least developed countries, including the small island developing states,” said the President’s Envoy for Science and Technology, Ahmed ‘Sappe’ Moosa.¨As momentum grows for climate action on the ground, the CIFs can be a real game-changer.”

The Maldives last year spent 25 percent of its listed GDP, a total of US$244 million, on importing fuel. Most of this was marine diesel used to power the country’s dhoni and speedboat fleet.

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MP Saleem denies corruption charges

Eydhafushi MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem has pleaded not guilty to charges that he was allegedly responsible for the illegal transfer of state funds to a private company in a violation of the country’s Anti-Corruption Act.

According to local media reports, prosecutors at the Criminal Court today alleged that Saleem, acting of his own accord, transferred 50 per cent of some government development funds to a company called Neyza Enterprises.  The allegations date back to 2003, when Saleem served as director of the Ministry of Atolls Development.

Haveeru reported that Saleem rejected allegations that he had been responsible for the funds transfer, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated  and an attempt by President Mohamed Nasheed to destroy his poltical career.

Judge Abdulla Didi reportedly told Saleem, who potentially faces a year in prison as well as the loss of his parliamentary seat if convicted, to avoid talking about politics and the president during the trial and discuss the charges against him.

Saleem’s lawyer MP Ibrahim Riza said that the charge documents had failed to clarify whether the defendant had been required to make an announcement concerning the development project linked to the case.  Riza claimed the situation was complicated by the government holding control of the documents in question.

Both the prosecution and defense submitted their respective list of witnesses to the court as the trial continues, Haveeru added.

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President takes breakfast trip to inaugurate Male’ bus service

President Mohamed Nasheed has this morning inaugurated the first of several bus services expected to operate around Male’ as passengers in the capital are invited to climb aboard free of charge during the next 24 hours.

Nasheed along with a number of local councillors and government officials were among the first people to use the service this morning, after departing from the Alimas Carnival area at 6am.

According to local newspaper Haveeru, the promotional trip stopped off at the the ‘Alibe Kada’ tea shop for a breakfast of Mashuni and Roshi before completing its round trip to the Alimas Carnival.

The buses, which will be operated by the MVK enterprise, will begin by operating a single route around Male’ before adding a second service to cover Majeedhee Magu and Ameenee Magu in the coming weeks, the report added.

From tomorrow onwards, passengers will be charged Rf5 for use of the service.

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Ali Waheed wins ‘man of the match’ in football friendly with German MPs

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ali Waheed has won the ‘man of the match’ in a friendly football match played yesterday between Maldives parliamentarians and German MPs.

‘’Maldives MPs won the match by 5 – 3. Ali Waheed scored a hatrick,’’ Maldives Soccer reported. ‘’MP Ahmed Amir and [MDP Deputy Leader and MP] Alhan Fahumy each scored a goal.’’

Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid inaugurated the football match.

Acting Chairperson of MDP, MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik has congratulated Waheed for winning the man of the match and the rest of the team.

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Judge Ghany resigns from JSC as Gasim sworn in

The High Court’s member on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Judge Abdul Ghany Mohamed has resigned from the judicial watchdog.

Haveeru reported Judge Ghany as saying that the high court appointments were incomplete at the time of his appointment, and that his departure would allow the lawful appointment of another member.

Business tycoon and MP Gasim Ibrahim has meanwhile been sworn in to JSC, after narrowly beating former MDP Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi as parliament’s representative on the JSC. Gasim took the oath of office before Supreme Court Judge Abdulla Areef.

The JSC’s membership currently includes Judge Abdulla Didi, Supreme Court Judge Adam Mohamed Abdulla, Attorney General Abdulla Muiz, MP Gasim Ibrahim, Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid, public representative Shuaib Abdu Rahman, lawyer Ahmed Rasheed and the President of the Civil Service Commission Mohamed Fahmy Hassan.

The President’s member on the commission is currently vacant.

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Transport minister talks Maldives’ SAARC ferry plans

Minister of Transport and Communication, Mohamed Adhil Saleem, has said that he expects the Maldives to be among the first beneficiaries of expanded ferry services between South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states.

Miadhu reported that Saleem said he expected the Maldives to be included within initial plans to strengthen the regional transport network between different SAARC member states with a ferry service travelling to the country from India and Sri Lanka. According to the news service, Pakistan and Bangladesh are also expected to be included in these regional ferry services at a later date.

Adil Saleem claimed that the services are expected to provide Maldivians with more cost efficient opportunities to transport goods and travel around South Asia in a safe and secure manner.

Ferry services between Sri Lanka and India have been restarted in recent months after a 30 year cessation of the services.  Meanwhile, the expansion of similar regional transport links is expected to play an important part in discussions at this year’s 17th SAARC summit being held in Addu Atoll in November.

Earlier this week, summit organisers said that connectivity – both in physical and diplomatic terms – would be a central theme of the SAARC meeting.

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