Dhiraagu disconnects phone lines from Laamu Gan Regional Hospital

Local telecom provider Dhiraagu has disconnected the phone lines of Laamu Gan Regional Hospital over an unpaid bill of MVR 600,000 (US$38,910) owed for setting up a network at the hospital’s new building, reports Haveeru.

Fathmath Barriya, head of the regional hospital, told the newspaper yesterday that the hospital was now unable to use its phone or fax and that Laamu residents were unable to call the ambulance number.

She explained that construction of the new building was completed on June 2011 and Dhiraagu had billed the hospital at the time.

Asked for help, the Health Ministry had instructed the hospital to settle the bill from its budget through monthly instalments, Barriya said. However, she added that the hospital did not have funds in its budget to pay the outstanding amount.

Dhiraagu has informed the hospital that the phone line would be connected when it submits an assurance in writing to settle the bill in monthly payments, she said.

She further noted that although the ministry made the contract with Dhiraagu, the former head of the hospital signed it. Employees involved in the project insisted that the ministry was supposed to pay for the project, she said.

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PPM moves into former DRP head office

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) have moved into the former head office of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) at the Henveiru Themaa house on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, in front of the stage at the artificial beach in Male’.

PPM Interim Deputy Leader and MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla told newspaper Haveeru that the official opening of the office would take place today (Thursday).

A press conference was held by PPM at its new office yesterday.

While the blue of DRP has been painted over in recent weeks by the magenta of PPM, the party’s logo was also put up outside the building.

The PPM was formed in October 2011 following a year-long split within the DRP and a public spat between former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and DRP Leader and MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

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STO, MTCC release third quarter earnings

The State Trading Organisation (STO) made a net profit of MVR104 million (US$6.7 million) in the third quarter of 2012.

According to STO’s income statement for the quarter that ended on September 30, the government company’s turnover was MVR 1.8 billion (US$117 million) while it made an operating profit of MVR 187 million (US$12 million).

Operating profit for 2012 so far stands at MVR 345.5 million (US$22 million).

Meanwhile, the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) reported a profit of MVR 3.8 million (US$246,433) after taxes.

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New deputy prosecutor general appointed

Prosecutor General (PG) Ahmed Muizz has appointed Deebanaz Fahmy as his new deputy following the resignation of former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.

Newspaper Haveeru reported yesterday that Deebanaz, formerly an attorney at the PG office, is the daughter of Assistant Prosecutor General Ahmed Hameed Fahmy.

An official from the PG office told the newspaper that Deebanaz has been working in prosecution for nine years.

Former Deputy PG Hussain Shameem confirmed to Minivan News earlier this month that he had left his post as Deputy Prosecutor General in order to pursue further education in the United Kingdom.

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Man sentenced to two year’s banishment for stealing RAM from mother’s computer

The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced a man to two years banishment for stealing two pieces of RAM from his mother’s computer.

According to the Criminal Court, Ahmed Arushad, of Male’ municipality special register 5269, confessed to stealing the memory chips from his mother Waleedha Abdulla’s computer at Henveiru Madhoshimaage on January 7, 2012.

The court noted that this was Arushad’s second conviction and banished him under article 131(a) of the penal code.

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Parliament rejects resolution on MVR 300 million BML loan

Parliament yesterday rejected 27-17 a resolution submitted by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Ahmed Sameer calling for an inquiry into the government borrowing MVR 300 million (US$19.5 million) from the Bank of Maldives.

The loan was obtained without parliamentary approval as required by the Public Finance Act.

The government had previously told local media the the BML loan was borrowed instead of US$65 million loan programme previously approved by the Majlis for budget support, and contended that further approval from parliament was therefore not required.

However, Counsellor General Fathmath Filza told the Finance Committee that the US$65 million loan was only to be borrowed from foreign lenders and that the government has to seek parliamentary approval before borrowing from a local bank as per the Public Finance Act.

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Bank of Maldives net profit for 2012 rises to MVR 200 million

The net profit of the Bank of Maldives Plc Ltd (BML) for 2012 has reached over MVR 200 million (US$13 million) by the end of the third quarter.

In a press release yesterday, BML revealed that the net profit in the third quarter of 2012 was was MVR 161 million, MVR 121 million up from previous quarter.

“By end of Q3 operating profit reached MVR 402.7M, an increase of 30% over the same period last year. Net Interest Income increased from 333.6M in Sep 2011 to 372.8M in the 9 months to Sep 2012. This is a 12 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

“Deposits grew over MVR 306 million from the same period last year, a reflection of continued strong deposit growth. Deposit as of the end of the quarter was MVR 7.6 billion compared to MVR 7.3 billion a year ago,” the press release noted.

“Our solid financial performance and extremely strong liquidity position ensure that the bank continues to be well positioned,” said Peter Horton, MD & CEO of Bank of Maldives. “The strong growth on our net profit is a testament to the efforts of our entire team and our ability to adapt to ever-changing market conditions.”

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President Waheed pledges sewerage system, new health centre for Hoarafushi

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has pledged to the people of Hoarafushi in Haa Alif Atoll today that funds would be included in next year’s budget for a sewerage system and new health centre for the island.

Newspaper Haveeru reported today that Waheed gave the assurances to the people of Hoarafushi during a visit to observe damage caused by severe flooding.

The President was accompanied on the trip by independent MP for Dhaalu Meedhoo, Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam.

Shiyam also accompanied Waheed during a recently concluded tour of Dhaalu Atoll, during which the former vice president pledged a number of infrastructure projects for several islands in the atoll.

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PPM congress postponed for third time

The government-aligned Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has postponed its national congress for a third time, scheduling the party’s first congress for January 2013.

Local daily Haveeru reported today that that the party cited “political turmoil” as the reason for the delay. The newspaper noted that the party’s charter stipulates that a congress should be held in the first six months after official registration.

The party held its inaugural convention in October 2011.

PPM Interim Secretary General Yumna Maumoon – daughter of the party’s figurehead and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – explained that the decision was made by the interim council after the party failed to secure an appropriate venue to host the congress.
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