One of the four victims in last week’s motorcycle accident at Gaafu Alifu Gemanafushi has died from his injuries.
Ali Ahthar was moved to IGMH last Friday after suffering a brain haemorrage when two motorcycles collided. IGMH said the 18-year old could not be flown overseas for further medical attention because his condition too unstable.
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(0)According to MNDF coast guard, the two fisherman from H. Dh. Neykurendhoo lost while out on a fishing trip have been found.
Hussain Abdulla, 43, and Mohamed Shifau, 15, left the island at around 7am on Saturday and failed to return.
Following a search and rescue operation carried out by the coast guard, the vessel was found today at 6.59am this morning,four miles off the coast of Neykurendhoo.
Both men were in good health and the boat is currently being assisted back to Neykurendhoo. The Coastguard noted that the vessel did not contain any mean of communication and urged people travelling in ocean-going vessels to ensure they had such equipment.
(0)Dislikes(0)A man has been been charged for hiding fugitive Moosa Inaz, who was convicted for his part in the 2007 Sultan Park explosions.
Ahmed Jihad of M. Liyaage, is charged for hiding Inaz in his room. Inaz allegedly gave the authorities the slip while on a visit to ADK hospital.
Police said Inaz then hid in Jihad’s room, and that Jihad lied to police when they came looking for him.
Jihad had denied the charge of hiding a fugitive and has requested a lawyer.
Police said Inaz has a past history of escaping from authorities, managing to do so from both Maafushi jail and Dhoonidhoo jail.
(0)Dislikes(0)The State Trading Organisation is trying to import more onions and potatoes into the country, in an attempt to bring down the current high prices of these two basic commodities.
But according to Miadhu, the STO might have to look elsewhere than India for onions where a ton of onions currently costs US$950.
However, India does provide letters of credit which enables the STO to purchase these goods without buying foriegn currency.
Managing Director Shahid Ali said that STO aims to sell these goods at affordable rates to retailers.
(0)Dislikes(0)The dozen or so little teashops beckon you when you step into the south-west harbour area of Male.
Located within easy walking distance of Villingilli ferry terminal, the teashops are squeezed together one alongside another, each painted in a vibrant colour with unique names like Fahari café (sister-in-law café), Lhiyanu Café (brother-in-law café) and Meal Deal.
Most of these cafés are famous for specific dishes. We head over to one gaining a reputation as serving one of the best local breakfasts in town.
X-Fresh 1 would be hard to find if you didn’t know its location – a canopy of leaves hides the name on the exterior. However it has the distinction of being one of the few cafes to have an outdoor area, complete with palm trees and coarse white sand.
Inside the café, the red colored walls give off a cheery feel. Even the table clothes are red and the fans follow the same theme with every other blade painted the same colour.
At nine in the morning the place is already starting to fill up. Half a dozen tables are occupied, including office workers in ties, people who’ve just stepped off the boats nearby and those who’ve wandered in off the street for chatter over coffee, tea and the variety of breakfasts on offer.
A Classic Breakfast
We choose a table outside. The shade from the palm trees and white coarse sand under foot gives the place an island feel. This reverie is broken every now and again by a passing pick up truck laden with goods being carried to a nearby dhoni (local boat).
Within the space of seconds a waiter appears by our table, his manner brisk.
We order the classic combination of Huni roshi (flat bread with grated coconut, shaped like a disk) and Mashuni (a mixture of tuna and grated coconut).
With an efficiency that would be the envy of top class restaurants, a small bottle of mineral water is served immediately and the food arrives fast on its heels, piping hot.
The disk lives up to its name – it is perfectly round. Legend has it that in the 90s a hota (local teashop) by the name of ‘Disk’ started serving Huni roshi, rounded to perfection. The hota named the dish as a kind of thumbs down to the concept of only the rich owning vinyl disk. A successful case of branding, à la Maldivienne.
The fresh pan-baked disk is baked to perfection with just the right hint of crispness and slightly sweet coconuty flavor.
The accompanying Mashuni is the perfect blend of tropical flavours that comprise the essence of Maldivian food: onion, chilli, lime juice, smoked tuna and freshly grated coconut.
The dish is unpretentious, flavoursome and testimony to the fact that the chef obviously knows his ropes.
The accompanying kurumba (young coconut) drink brings just the right touch to complete the meal.
Well chilled, the balanced combination of fresh coconut juice and soft flesh is a good balance of textures and is a delight to the taste buds on a hot morning.
While we are eating a constant stream of people come and go; a couple ventures in with a baby, as well as numerous well- dressed men. Four waiters in white shirts and black pants do a good job of attending to the customers.
No menus are on display in the café, but it’s generally understood that cafes in harbour area are light on the wallet. Our breakfast is Rf 15, the same price as the kurumba.
Some customers opt to try out the hedhika (short eats) piled on a tray, which the waiter brings to the table. Laden to the brim with savories and few sweet items, a person points at the item he wants, and the waiter serves it with a pair of tongs.
For those looking for more subtle flavors in the morning, toast and eggs are also on offer.
The aroma of coffee proves too tempting, and we order the Italian Lavazza coffee. To our pleasant surprise, coffee was well frothed and though a bit hot and lacking in body, it proved to be one of the best coffees in town.
One breakfast there and it’s easy to understand why people stream there in the morning, with the tables filled even on Friday mornings. In fact, if you turn up for breakfast on a Friday you’ll will be in the company of well-known personalities and MPs.
The usual little tray of betel nuts and betel leaves arrive, and a hastily scribbled bill brings an end to our morning escapade. At Rf 80 for two people it’s a bargain.
X-fresh 1 is a bit out of the way, for a delicious local breakfast at great price in a place reminiscent of islands in Maldives, right here in the capital, X-fresh 1 is hard to beat.
X-Fresh 1
X-Fresh 1 is the nearest café to Villingili ferry terminal, located at the south west harbor. Breakfast is served until 11am. Its open from 6am to 12pm and serves a variety of local and international dishes.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police last night arrested a man in relation to the distribution of narcotics.
In an operation carried out last night, Ahmed Aseel (18) of Maafanu Suthuli, was arrested in possession of 146.8 grams of heroin.
Police said they believe Aseel is only a distributor and are working on discovering the identities of his suppliers.
(0)Dislikes(0)Police have arrested a man in Laamu atoll Mathimaradhu in relation to drug trafficking.
Police claimed that Hassan ‘Achan’ Yoosuf was a major player in the drug trade for Laamu Atoll, and believed to control more than 50% of the drug trade in the atoll.
Sub-Inspector Ahmed Azhan of the Drug Investigation Department said police have been keeping tabs on Yoosuf for “quite some time now.”
Police said when Yoosuf was apprehended he tried to dispose of some packets that were in his possession, which were later confirmed to be 50 grams of narcotics.
Azhan said that Yoosuf’s arrest was a huge step forward in the fight against drugs.
(0)Dislikes(0)A bill to amend the financial regulations to require parliamentary approval before the government obtains foreign loans was debated at parliament yesterday.
Presenting the legislation, Maafanu West MP Abdullah Abdul Raheem of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), said he was proposing the amendments to “modernise” the financial regulations.
“My purposes [for proposing the bill] include securing economic independence for Maldivians,” he said.
He added amendments were needed for the financial regulations passed in 2006 as it gave powers to the government that contravened the spirit of the constitution.
The regulations needed to be changed in accordance with article 250 of the constitution, he said, which states “Any transfer, sale, lease, release, mortgage (to any person) or destruction of, any property or assets owned by the state, and any such other agreement, shall only be entered into in accordance with law.”
Abdullah said it was an “injustice” to obtain loans under a regulation first made in 1976, adding it was not his intention to restrict powers of the president.
The mid-term budget for 2010 currently being reviewed by a parliamentary committee includes Rf384 million (US$29 million) in foreign loan assistance proposed to plug a Rf4.6 billion (US$357 million) deficit.
The bill proposes amending the regulations to require the president to submit plans to secure loans either for the government or state-owned enterprises for parliamentary approval.
Moreover, the sale or lease of government property and providing subsidies or assistance must be conducted in accordance with a law to be passed by parliament.
During the ensuing debate, MPs disagreed with the extent of parliamentary oversight and powers over the government, with some arguing such laws encroached on the authority of the executive.
Feydhoo MP Alhan Fahmy said there was a contradiction between the proposed amendments and what the MP said was its purpose.
The constitution gave the president powers to formulate and implement monetary and fiscal policies.
“We have to set aside having the People’s Majlis decide everything in our thinking,” he said, adding MPs should not interfere with setting policy and implementation as it was contrary to the presidential system of governance.
Alhan said the president did not have to secure parliamentary approval to obtain loans to plug the budget deficit and MPs were not financial experts.
Moreover, he said, the article in the constitution did not deal with loans and foreign assistance.
Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim, sole representative of the Republican Party and former finance minister, said the amendment was urgently needed for the future of the nation.
Article 97 of the constitution clearly states that the executive shall not obtain or receive any money or property by loan or otherwise except pursuant to a law enacted by the People’s Majlis, Gasim said.
Referring to the sale of the majority stake in the state telecommunication company, Dhiraagu, Gasim criticised the government’s policy of privatising state-owned enterprises without consultation with the people’s representatives.
He urged MPs to approve the amendments to ensure that future generations do not inherit a “hollow shell” of an indebted nation.
Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party said the amendments would impede the functioning of the government.
Submitting loans required by government companies to parliament every time funds were needed would create difficulties and slow down the proceedings of parliament, he said.
Vili-Maafanu MP Ahmed Nihan of the DRP said the amendments were required to ensure that the government does not exploit loopholes in the regulations in obtaining loans that would indebt the people.
(0)Dislikes(0)An Indian worker residing in Male’ has been arrested in possession of alcohol.
According to Sub-Inspector Ahmed Azhan of the Drug Investigation Department, a raid was conducted on a suspected alcohol brewing and distribution operation. The Indian man, only known as Shibu, was found with 65 bottles of alcohol that police have identified as vodka.
Police are now working to identify the man as he had no passport or other means of identification on him, and believe him to be in the country illegally.
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