Category: News in Brief

Government postpones nationwide vehicle ban

Next week’s Pedestrian Day event that will ban vehicles from the streets of Male’ and other inhabited islands for six hours has been postponed until Friday June 15, local media has reported.

The event, originally scheduled for Tuesday June 12, will ban the use of vehicles between 4:00pm to 10:00pm as part of the country’s commitments to play up sustainable development ahead of the Rio+20 summit later this month.

However, the government has opted to move the Pedestrian Day to the weekend over concerns about disruption caused to the general public during a working day, according to Haveeru.

During the six hour period, only vehicles used by security forces and emergency services, as well as transportation for people with special needs will be permitted to operate on the country’s roads.

Vehicles carrying departure passengers and other tourism related services will be required to obtain a special permit from transport authorities. Members of the public not found to be in compliance with the vehicle ban will be charged Rf750, according to local media.

An exhibition set to be held on the artificial beach area of Male’ based around recycling has also been postponed until next Friday.

However, the government has said that events scheduled for the next 24 hours to mark World Environment Day were going ahead as planned.

The government told Minivan News yesterday that it was presently undertaking work to devise a new national environment strategy.

A President’s Office spokesperson claimed the government was not looking to “completely” reverse the high-profile carbon neutral policies practised during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

High Court verdict on Usfasgandu case to be issued Tuesday

The High Court today held hearings on the Usfasgandu dismantling case after the government appealed the matter, following a Civil Court injunction to halt the dismantling operation.

The government appealed to cancel the Civil Court order to stop dismantling of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest site, and to return all items confiscated from the area by security forces.

Attorney for the State Ahmed Usham contended that the Civil Court’s order was completely in favour of the MDP, and also contradicted normal procedures for issuing court orders. He further said the Civil Court had not granted sufficient time and opportunity for the State to respond to the court order.

In response, MDP lawyer Abdulla Afeef said the Civil Court gave the State ample time to respond considering the situation at the time.

A verdict on the case will be issued tomorrow, said High Court Judge Abdul Rauf.

Likes(1)Dislikes(0)

No confidence motion against Speaker Abdulla Shahid scheduled for tomorrow

Parliament will tomorrow consider a no confidence motion against Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid forwarded by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

In April the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group passed its own no-confidence motion against Abdulla Shahid.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Parliamentary Group leader and MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom previously told the local press that he will make sure the no-confidence motion against Speaker fails in parliament.

The opening day of parliament’s second session was held today. Parliament sent the issue of joining the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), also known as the Washington Convention, to the National Development Committee.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

MDP to offer name and logo for mechandising

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has today decided to allow use of the party’s name and logo for merchandising.

In a press statement the party announced that its name and logo could be used on products and souvenirs and for other commercial purposes, upon receipt of a letter of consent from the party.

The party said it would charge five percent royalties prior to sale for use of its name and logo, the MDP stated.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President Waheed discusses expanding Iranian relations

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has committed to strengthen relations with Iran in a number of areas such as education and energy, the country’s state media has reported.

The state-run Fars News Agency has reported that President Waheed had shown “willingness” to expand ties between the two nations during a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Male’ last week.

The comments were as Iranian President Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad invited Dr Waheed to attend the 16th Non Aligned Movement Summit in Iran between August 30 to 31.

The invitation was delivered personally by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi at meeting at the President’s Office. Discussions were also held on the potential for investment and higher education opportunities from Iran.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Deputy Tourism Minister talks Malaysian tourism opportunities

The Maldives has pledged to attract 10,000 Malaysian visitors annually by 2014 through focusing on the potential of initiatives like sustainable tourism, according to local media.

Deputy Tourism Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal told Malaysian media during the 2012 World Islamic Tourism Mart based in the country, that as the Maldives continued to try and address climate change issues at island level, local resort operators had been pursuing more eco-friendly operations.

Maleeh told Malaysia-based newspaper the Sun Daily that when considering the potential partnerships between the two destinations for sustainable tourism, some 6,555 Malaysian holidaymakers already visited the Maldives over the course of last year. He added that 1,700 visitors from the country had arrived during the first four months of 2012.

Maleeh claimed that with a growing importance attached to Asian visitors coming to the Maldives, local people working in the travel industry had also begun to better acquaint themselves with Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages and cultural practices.

“The number of Chinese tourists, including Malaysian Chinese, to the Maldives is expected to set a new high in 2012. We see them as an important market,” he told the newspaper.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Maldives Broadcasting Commission issues TV and Radio frequencies

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission today awarded broadcasting frequencies to three television stations and four radio stations.

Pictureland Fm Pvt Ltd (Sun Fm), Island Broadcasting Company (VTV) and Broadcasting Maldives Pvt Ltd (DhiTV) won bids for television broadcasting licences while Raajje Television Pvt Ltd (RaajjeTV) and Next Plan Pvt Ltd lost the bids.

Radio frequencies will be given to Island Broadcasting Company, Pictureland Fm, Asna Maldives Pvt Ltd and Faraway Holidays Pvt Ltd.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Fourteen expats arrested with alcohol and drugs

Police have arrested 14 expatriate workers while they were in possession of four large bottles of alcohol and seven 500ml bottles of alcohol inside a garage in Male’.

According to police, the expats were arrested in a special operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department last Friday night at around 12:30am.

Police said the alcohol bottles were discovered inside a box in the garage.

Two packets of suspected illegal drugs were found inside the wallet of one expat arrested, said police.

Police said the 13 expats arrested were from Sri Lanka and one was from Bangladesh. Two were female, police said.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

President forwards twelve name CIC nominees list to Majlis

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has submitted a list of 12 nominees for approval by the People’s Majlis to serve on the Customs Integrity Commission (CIC).

Under the Maldives Customs Act, five members are required to be appointed by the president to the CIC. A deadline for applications for the posts expired on May 29, 2011.

The President’s Office released the list of 12 nominees on Thursday.

The list of nominees are:

Ahmed Shakir,

Wizad Ali,

Abdulla Shinah,

Ahmed Ali Maniku,

Abdul Raheem Abdul Rahman,

Aishath Shiuna,

Jihadha Anees,

Fareesha Adam,

Mohamed Shareef,

Abdulla Nisam,

Yoosuf Maniu Mohamed,

Fathimath Shamweela,

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)