Category: News in Brief

India to conduct third medical camp this year, in Huvadhoo atoll

Indian doctors arrived in the Maldives yesterday (November 9) in order to conduct medical camps in Huvadhoo Atoll.

Four specialists from the Indian Defence Force will be conducting the camps in Gaafu Alif Villingili and Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo between November 10 and 16.

“This will greatly benefit the people of these islands and will assist in providing specialist medical assistance to the people of Maldives,” read a press release from the Indian High Commission in Malé.

This is the third medical camp organised by India this year, with previous visits bringing medical services to more than 3000 people. Additionally, an’eye camp’ conducted during the India- Maldives ‘Dosti-Ekuverikan’ friendship week offered free consultations to more than 500 people.

This team comprises 5 specialist doctors – with members from Malé’s Senahiya military hospital – in fields including Orthopaedics, Internal Medicine, ENT, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

As well as offering consultations in regional health centres, the team will conduct minor operative procedures if needed.

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Over 8,500 forms submitted for home ownership programme

Around 8,700 people have submitted application forms for the government’s home ownership programme while tokens have been issued to a further 17,000, housing minister Dr Mohamed Muiz revealed yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference about the ministry’s achievements during the past year, Muiz said application forms would be accepted until February.

The ministry would assess the applications and make home visits to determine standard of living, he added.

The government announced the ‘Gedhoruverikan’ social housing scheme in February.

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PPM responds to foreign minister silk route controversy

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has responded to the Maldives Democratic Party’s (MDP) criticism of foreign minister Dunya Maumoon’s remarks regarding India’s participation in China’s Maritime Silk Road initiative.

In a media statement released today, the PPM accused the opposition of twisting the story in order to harness attention from the international community.

The party also alleged that MDP is trying to divert attention from the party’s achievements during its third anniversary and from the one year anniversary of President Abdulla Yameen’s term.

MDP condemned Dunya for “intentionally” providing false information about the Chinese project when questioned by the parliament Maldives involvement in the project.

When asked about the potential impact of the scheme on India-Maldives relations, Dunya told the parliament last week that India had also discussed participating during the recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinpeng.

However, Indian Diplomats in Malé promptly refuted the claim, releasing a statement containing comments from the Indian External Affairs Ministry which denied such talks having taken place.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement today seeking to clarify any confusion caused by these remarks, saying that Dunya had “noted her concern if her choice of words had led to any confusion”.

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STO signs agreement to supply equipment to construct Maafushi Prison wall

The State Trading Organisation (STO) has signed a contract with the Department of Correctional Services to supply equipment needed in order to construct a security wall encircling the Maafushi Prison.

Haveeru reported that Managing Director of the STO Adam Azim provided assurance that the company would provide all the necessary equipment as per schedule, and would cooperate fully with the correctional services.

The wall, which is to be built using the paid labour of the prisoners is estimated to cost MVR7 million (US$460,000), with more than half of the total being spent on equipment.

The government’s decision to build the wall came after the escape of two prisoners – both serving life sentences – through some ventilation shafts in their cells.

The Maldives Police Service had previously stated that it would assist correctional services in looking after the security of the prison by permanently stationing a police team on the island.

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Imam of unauthorised independent prayer congregation sentenced to jail

Self-appointed Imam, Hussain Thowfiq, arrested last month (September 30) for leading unauthorised prayers at Dharmuvantha Mosque, has been sentenced to jail for two years by the Criminal Court.

The 34-year-old was found guilty of disobeying religious unity regulations by delivering unauthorised sermons at the mosque, leading Friday prayers at a mosque not designated for the prayer, and of attempting to incite religious strife and discord read the criminal court sentence.

Meanwhile, Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said yesterday (November 8 ) that such independent congregations are “unacceptable” and threatened legal action if members of such groups refuse to accept advice from scholars.

The government would not allow practices outside the bounds of the law and religious strictures, declared Shaheem.

The Dharumavantha congregation had previously been described as inciting extremist ideology by the Islamic minister. The sermons had called for the destruction of the current government, prompting a temporary shutdown on February this year.

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MDP reconstitutes 19 ‘shadow’ committees

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has reconstituted 19 ‘shadow’ committees to hold the government accountable.

MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed told the press on Thursday (November 6) that chairpersons and vice chairpersons have been newly elected to head the oversight committees.

The former MP said the leadership would have regular meetings with the shadow committees in the future.

They include committees dealing with international relations, transport, housing, rights, research and policies, elections, organisation, economic affairs, fund raising, fisheries and agriculture, media, membership and campaigns, legal affairs, security, health, education, and employment and social affairs.

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MMPRC believes Thumburi project will bring an additional 150,000 tourists per year

Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) Abdulla Ziyath believes the government’s Thumburi integrated resort project will increase visitors to the Maldives by 150,000.

“The market had become quite stagnant, as there were not many new hotels on the way and we were becoming perceived as a place just for five-star tourists,” Ziyath told TTG while at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.

“This addresses those issues and for the first time enables small businesses to invest; in fact we are actively discouraging the main existing resort owners from being a part of Thumburi”.

The government’s integrated resort project – or ‘vertical tourism’ – is designed to “responsibly diversify the tourism product of the Maldives”, says the MMPRC, after the rapid expansion of guest houses on inhabited islands under the presidency of Mohamed Nasheed between 2008 and 2012.

Some within the industry have expressed fears over the guest house’s impact on the Maldives image as a luxury travel destination, although critics of the new scheme say the multi-ownership guest house island concept will not bring the same benefit to local communities.

Ziyath spoke during the WTM, at which it unveiled the Thumburi project. The event features 146 representatives from 54 countries and is to conclude tomorrow.

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China gifts 200 waste bins to environment ministry

The Chinese government today gifted 200 waste bins worth MVR500,000 (US$32,425) to the Maldivian government, during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Deputy Head of Commission at the Chinese Embassy in Maldives, Mr Liu Ching signed the contract on behalf of the Chinese government, while Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Ali Amir signed for the Maldives.

Mr Liu highlighted the importance of keeping the environment clean and safe for the many tourists visiting the Maldives – of which around a third now come from China.

Malé City Council introduced litter bins to the capital for the first time this year, placing 200 around the city as part of new waste management regulations which impose a MVR100 (US$6.5) fine for littering.

Liu today said that he was keen to sustain the relationship between the two nations, whose bilateral ties have been expanding rapidly over the past two years.

As well as a steady stream of grant aid, the Chinese and Maldivian governments have penned deals regarding military aid and the development of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

As well as urging the Maldives to become part of its New Silk Road initiative, the Chinese government has promised to “favorably consider” financing the ambitious Malé-Hulhulé bridge project.

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Baa Atoll Conservation Fund grants US$100,000 for seven projects

Free aid worth US$100,000 has been granted from the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund to finance seven environment protection and developmental projects in the atoll.

The fund was established in April 2012 following the designation of the atoll as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim handed award documents to the recipients at a ceremony held last night in Baa Eydhafushi.

The seven parties were selected following evaluation of 26 proposals. They were the Dharavandhoo development cooperative society, Kendhoo school, Kihaadhoo farm foundation, Maalhos women’s committee, Thulhaadhoo island council, and Eydhafushi Feyli association.

Baa Atoll, which includes Hanifaru Bay – an area world-renowned for sighting whale sharks and manta rays – was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in June 2011, after more than five years of lobbying by the government.

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