Category: News in Brief

Bids open for Addu Convention Center

Bidding documents for the management of Addu’s Equatorial Convention Centre have been purchased by Immigration Controller Abdulla Shahid, MVK Maldives and Singaporean PAVL Leo.

The documents will be sold until January 18 for Rf2,000 (US$129) for locals and Rf4,626 (US$300) for foreigners. Bids are due by January 19.

The three parties were announced at a pre-bid meeting at the convention center, attended by three other interested parties: Singapore-based Jason Globe Private Limited, local company Liko Travels Private Limited and Abdulla ‘Damas’ Solih of Karankaage/Seenu atoll Hulhudhoo.

Indian and Chinese companies are still expressing interest, reports Haveeru.

The center was built this year for the 17th annual SAARC Summit on a budget of Rf150 million (US$9.7 million). The area is to be developed under the Tourism Act and the Decentralisation Act.

The bid reportedly includes the 7.7 hectares of land on which the centre is built, the 21.2 hectares of pond area that surrounds the centre, and an additional 67 hectares of land on which to build a city hotel.

Addu City Council plans to hand over the centre to a winning party in February 2012. The projected time frame is 18 months.

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Male’ bus service bids open to four groups

MVK Maldives, Shiyam Auto Garage, AK Construction and MVK’s Ahmed Nazim have shown interest in providing bus service to Male’, the city council has announced.

City Council will accept bids for the project today, December 15, from the four groups exclusively, Haveeru reports. The parties are required to present a Rf500,000 (US$33,300) guarantee at the time of bidding.

The council will evaluate bids according to the parties’ demonstration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its commitment to renewable energy.

Previously, Male’ bus service was operated by MVK Maldives for a trial period. The agreement covering the trial service expired this month.

MVK has been requested to continue service until a party is selected and an agreement reached.

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Man dies of injuries following apparent suicide attempt

A 34 year-old man has died while being treated for injuries suffered in an apparent attempt to hang himself on Wednesday.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that the man was found injured inside the apartment he lived in Male’. He had the pulse when he was taken to the hospital, Shiyam said, “However died during the treatment.”

He said the case is currently under investigation.

Local media outlet Sun identified the man as Junaid Jaufar of Maajehige on Gadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

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Parliament endorses Fathimath Filza as Consul General

Parliament unanimously endorsed Fathimath Filza’s nomination for parliamentary Consul General during yesterday’s sitting. Filza will replace Dr Abdulla Didi, who was appointed Supreme Court judge in August 2010.

Seventy MPs participated in the vote and two abstained.

Following the favorable vote for Filza, Parliament did not vote on the other two nominees, Anaara Naeem and Ummu Kulsoom Abu Bakr.

As Consul General, Filza will represent and advise Parliament on legal matters. According to Haveeru, her monthly salary will be Rf32,000 (US$2,000) along with a phone bill of Rf1,000 (US$65).

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Defense Minister’s car smashed

Maldives Defense Minister Tholhath Ibrahim’s personal car was attacked while parked outside his home on Tuesday night.

The rear window of the car was smashed in the attack.

Police Sub- Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told Minivan News on Wednesday that the case is now under investigation.

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Health insurance should be free: MPs propose amendments to Bill

Parliament has proposed almost a hundred amendments to the National Health Insurance Bill, including a call for it to be made compulsory for locals and expatriates alike.

The bill currently requires workers to contribute 3.5 percent of their salaries to the scheme, however an amendment proposed by MP Yusuf Abdul Gafoor would require the government to pay insurance costs for everyone in the country, out of revenue derived from taxing tobacco products.

Haveeru reported that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed had proposed a 1.5 percent employee contribution, with three percent paid by the employer. Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Rozaina Adam proposed that workers pay only 0.5 percent.

DRP MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom said the state should fund health insurance for all Maldivians through increased tax revenue, while expatriates should be charged.

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Four Seasons opens 2013 Hospitality Apprenticeships

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives has held a series of information sessions and application interviews for its 2013 Hospitality Apprenticeship scheme.

The program will offer 50 young Maldivians a year’s vocational training in food and beverage preparation, service, maritime transport, housekeeping and guest services, PADI dive master and water sports.

In a statement, the resort said that the program was “the most successful and longest running of its kind in the Indian Ocean.”

After a decade of operation, the program’s reputation “has grown to such an extent that virtually all apprentices get a job upon graduation, with a level of skill that would otherwise have taken years to acquire.”

Apprentices live and work at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, training in resort operations five days a week, with theory classes one day a week. Performance appraisals and tests are taken at regular interviews.

The program is open to young Maldivians aged 17-20, with O-level certifications, an enthusiastic service-minded attitude, an excellent disciplinary record and fluency in both written and spoken English. Previous work experience is not required.

Interviews took place in Male’, Raa, Addu and Fuamulah Atolls earlier this month, while interviews will be held at Naifaru/Hinnavaru, Lhaviyani on December 16; Velidhoo, Noonu on 17 December 17 and Baa Atoll on January 13-14,2012.

Interested applicants who are unable to attend one of the above sessions should complete and return an application form by February 15, 2012: [email protected]

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ACC rejects Gayoom’s accusations of political bias

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has condemned former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for saying that the corruption can be eliminated by “saving the ACC from intimidation and influence of the government”.

In a rally organised by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Saturday night, Maumoon forwarded a speech in which he raised concerns over what he alleged was an alarming increase in corruption in the past three years – alleging the top government officials are involved in bribery, fraud and abuse of authority for personal gains.

In a press release issued on Sunday, President of the ACC Hassan Luthfuee denied the commission had been influenced by the government or any other party.

“We have not faced any intimidation in executing the commission’s responsibilities,” the statement read.

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President appoints executives to CMDA, MQA

Former Financial Controller at the Finance Ministry Ahmed Assad has been appointed to the post of Chairman of the Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA).

Assad was appointed by President Mohamed Nasheed earlier today. He is a brother of Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam.

Assad served as the State Minister for Finance and Treasury before accepting the post of Financial Controller on April 8 this year. He resigned from this position in November for undisclosed reasons.

In a letter accepting Assad’s resignation, President Nasheed thanked him for his support in drafting the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) manifesto, Haveeru reports.

The President also appointed today Dr. Abdul Muhsin Mohamed as the Chief Executive Officer at the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA). The MQA oversees and issues professional credentials in the Maldives.

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