“Teaching Excellence Awards” in eight categories were handed out at a ceremony last night to celebrate Teacher’s Day.
The categories included best pre-school teacher, best secondary school teacher and best teacher for children with special needs. The recipients were awarded a monetary gift of Rf30,000 (US$1,945).
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed said that teachers played the most important role in the country’s development.
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(0)The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has decided to conduct a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of the newly-introduced General Goods and Services Tax (G-GST).
Sun Online reported that 13 teams from MIRA would be visiting 20 atolls in the coming days to inform the public and help businesses register with the tax collection authority.
The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MNCCI) meanwhile filed a case at the High Court last week seeking a temporary injunction to halt the implementation of the GST Act. The group of businessmen argue that a number of provisions in the Act were unconstitutional.
However the High Court informed the appellants to correct errors in their case forms and re-submit it. The first hearing is likely to take place next week.
Read the MIRA FAQ on GST here.
(1)Dislikes(0)The Maldives showed interest in increasing investments from Sri Lanka at the fourth annual meeting of the Sri Lanka, according to the Maldives Bilateral Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Among the investments discussed were construction, transport and energy. Officials also discussed expanding a credit line beyond fruits and vegetables for Sri Lankan exporters, reports Lanka Business Online.
An expanded credit line could allegedly broaden business opportunities in the Maldives and alleviate the Maldives’ current difficulties with a foreign currency shortage, council president Hussain S. Hashim allegedly said.
The council, which was formed in 2007, addresses business relationships between the two countries. The Maldives imports Sri Lankan textiles, clothing, jewellery, produce and tea, and exports a variety of fish products as well as cement clinker to its neighbour.
(0)Dislikes(0)The Maldives Police Service signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with the US government on Tuesday to “enhance the abilities of the law enforcement agencies of the government of Maldives to deter terrorists and terrorist groups from engaging in international terrorist acts.”
The MoI was signed by Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh on behalf of the government while the Ambassador of the United States of America, Patricia Butenis, signed for the American government.
According to a police press statement, the US State Department would be providing assistance to the Maldivian police under its anti-terrorism assistance programme.
The purpose of the MoI is to establish a mechanism for local law enforcement to cooperate with the US government in counter-terrorism activities, the statement said.
(0)Dislikes(0)The opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has threatened disciplinary action against two of its councillors in Fuvahmulah after the pair voted against the party line in a no-confidence motion against the Dhadimagu ward council chair.
A press statement from the party noted that Hussein Ihsan and Mohamed Farish ignored instructions from the party’s administration.
The DRP council will discuss possible disciplinary action against the pair at its next meeting, the statement said.
(0)Dislikes(0)Telecommunications giant Dhiraagu launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) last night to offer 11.4 million shares (15 percent of the company’s stake) to the public at a rate of Rf80 per share from December 25 onward.
At a launching ceremony last night, Customer Services and Sales Director Ali Riyaz explained that application forms as well as the prospectus would now be available from Dhiraagu front offices and Bank of Maldives branches.
The forms would not be available for download for security reasons, he said. Completed forms are to be submitted between October 25 to November 30.
Meanwhile special seminars in Male’ and the atolls are being planned to provide information to the public.
The company revealed this week that it earned Rf968 million (US$62.7 million) as profit in 15 months with an income of about Rf2.5 billion (US$162 million).
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed revealed that the government intended to sell its remaining 33 percent share of the company to the public.
(0)Dislikes(0)Parliament began preliminary debate on three bills during its sittings this week, including legislation on small and medium-sized businesses proposed by the government as part of its economic reform package.
Presenting the bill on Monday, MP Nazim Rashad of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the legislation would establish a centralised mechanism to register small businesses and facilitate loans for investment.
In the next sitting on Tuesday, Independent MP Ali Mohamed presented a bill on medical devices. The former opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP explained that the absence of relevant legislation on medical equipment precluded hospitals from ascertaining their quality.
The legislation would encourage training staff to operate the machinery and establish a regulatory board to enforce standards.
Meanwhile at today’s sitting, the last of the week, preliminary debate began on the government’s arbitration bill, which seeks to introduce alternative dispute resolution in the Maldives. The bill is also part of the government’s 18-bill economic reform package.
The first of the reform bills – now the General Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act – was passed at the final sitting of the last session on August 29.
Also during this week’s sittings, the government’s bill to amend the Import-Export Act of 1979 to reduce and eliminate custom duties entered the final committee stage. The amendment bill is likely to be put for a vote when Majlis resumes next week.
(0)Dislikes(0)Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Mohamed Mujthaz resigned from the party yesterday and signed for former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Mujthaz signed the membership form at a small ceremony attended by Gayoom. PPM Spokesperson MP Ahmed Mahlouf told press that the MP for Hanimaadhoo had pledged to join the new party formed by the breakaway Z-faction of the DRP.
With the exodus of MPs to join PPM, the DRP now has 16 MPs in parliament.
(0)Dislikes(0)Dr Mustafa Luthfy has published a new book entitled, School Manhajaai Thauleem (Maldives School Curriculum and Education) in Dhivehi. The book was published independently, and released on September 28.
“It took me two years to write, I am very relieved that it has been published,” Luthfy said.
Luthfy has worked in the education sector since 1976, and previously was a student studying education. “I thought I would write what I thought and understood about Maldivian education for the benefit of people who come after me,” he said.
The book addresses curricula in the Maldives since the 1940s, and analyses tensions in its development. Luthfy cautions that the book is not a history, but instead is meant to serve the education sector from a socio-political perspective.
“Education is significant not just to itself, but even to understanding and developing political, societal and global trends,” he said.
Luthfy added that the book has been well receieved as “one of the best books written in Dhivehi.”
Luthfy currently holds the position of Maldives National University Chancellor (MNU) and was formerly Education Minister for the Maldivian government.
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