The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has announced it will continue its ‘red notice’ protests, despite welcoming changes the government’s new subsidies for electricity charges.
National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) today said that it changed the per unit rate for subsidies for electricity charges, a move intended to people who cannot afford the electricity bill.
According to the changes, charges for 0-100 meter units would be Rf1.50, 101-200 meter units Rf1.70, 201-300 meter units Rf2.15 and 301-400 units Rf2.50, for people receiving subsidies.
Charges for those not identified as eligible for a subsidy will remain at Rf2.25 for 0-100 units, Rf2.50 for 101-300 units, Rf 2.95 for 301-500 units, Rf3.55 for 501-600 units and Rf3.85 above 601.
NSPA Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed said that the subsidied charges were cheaper than 2008 prices.
”No changes were brought to the [normal] charges, but the subsidised rates have changed,” he said.
No changes were made to unsubsidised electricity charges because the government wished to run the State Electric Company (STELCO) without a loss, he said.
He said that the changes in the subsidised rates had no connection with the DRP-led protests.
DRP MP Ahmed Mahloof meanwhile said the protest would begin tonight at 8:45pm, and would start near the tsunami monument.
”Maldivian Democratic Party MDP’s protest outside the Vice President’s house has proved us that climbing gates was not prohibited,” Mahloof said. ”We will climb the gates of Muleeage [the President’s official residence] tonight.”
Mahloof said he had information that the police has planned to use rubber bullets to disperse tonight’s gathering.
DRP MP Ahmed Nihan said that DRP welcomed the changes brought to the electricity charges, but ”will continue the protest as we have planned.”
Nihan said that 80 percent of the people ought to receive subsidies for electricity charges.
”The procedure NSPA follows is not very comprehensive,” he said, ”but we welcome the changes they brought.”
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Its remarkable how opposition politicians always 'have information'. First it was about how members of the opposition were going to get arrested last month. The new DRP leader's 'inauguration' speech was oh so wonderfully emotional about how he was all ready to withstand any arrests or difficulties put upon him by the government. Now it is about rubber bullets. In between was the drama in front of STELCO. So interesting to observe all these fun and games - guess every dog must have its day, as the saying goes. Not to mention, keep the populace entertained during non-Kasauti hours.
Welldone DRP! I mean the youth of DRP like Ali Waheed, Mahloof and Nihan and not Thasmeen, Shahid and the lot. I'm very impressed with the work that you are doing. You have proven to be very effective.
Lets see how fast DRP MP Ahmed Nihan runs when he faces the police water cannons. Bunch of cowards...
Mr. Mahu Fool, I thought you guys taught MDP to climb these gates. It was your deputy leader Mr. Chuck Norris who started this.
We are with you DRP. Keep the pressure.
DRP is a bunch of clowns and thugs! Now they want the fili Waheed to "do the job" of cracking this government. What a looser!! Nor Maldivian will ever vote these people!
DRP and their buddies in PA bankrupted STELCO. Let us always remember that. It makes me laugh the way they want to influence STELCO now that it is being run professionally.
I am not a protester. But this change does not change the fact that NSPA is giving subsidy to the wrong people. This doesn't solve the problem President said. He said Said "We are having difficulty in identifying who should get subsidy." ??? They are giving the subsidy to the wrong people.
A simple request to the "god loving, peaceful, nation loving DRP/PA members". Please organise a rally demanding taxation bill to be passed and demand government to recover the unpaid hefty loans of senior politicians. Got the guts ???
I doubt...you guys are a bunch of power hungry mad men.