The People’s Majlis will on Monday consider the appointment of the three cabinet members who failed to gain the approval of the Government Accountability Committee last month, local media has reported.
On June 11, Dr Mohamed Muiz, Dr Mariyam Shakeela, and Dr Ahmed Jamsheed failed to gain the approval of the 11 member committee, despite it being dominated by parties from the unity government, although the committee did approve Dhiyana Saeed as the Minister for Gender.
The posts for the new portfolios with the Ministries of Health, Housing, and Environment were left to the full Majlis to deliberate upon after pro-government Jumhoory Party (JP) MP Alhan Fahmy voted with the Maldivian Democratic Party committee members.
Just before the June vote, the JP announced its intention to forward its new President Dr Ibrahim Didi as Health Minister, the post currently held by Jamsheed whilst he awaits his re-appointment to the slightly altered post.
Alliance Française Maldives (AFM) celebrated World Music Day for the fourth time in the Maldives, in a music festival this weekend featuring local artists and a mesmerising performance by Abaji, a multi-talented musician famous for his proficiency in playing wide range of unique instruments.
World Music Day originated in France and through the years it has spread to more than 110 countries which celebrate it every year with amateurs and professionals presenting their music together.
This year’s stage for Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) was set at the Sultan Park on June 29, well attended by both locals and foreigners. From the loud thumps and beat of Bodu Beru group Habeys, to a sizzling performance by all-girls rock band Majenta, the crowd was enjoyed the music in a chilled environment.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the festival was the performance by the French vocalist Abaji. The musician of Greek, Armenian, and Turkish descent presented an array of unique musical instruments with such perfect ease and vocal rendition, that left the crowd gathered near the stage speechless.
“That is so amazing. How does he do that?” asked one spectator as the crowd cheered.
According to the Alliance Française, the event setting gives the original ambiance of Fête de la Musique in France, as during the world music day every musician is free to express their artistic talent in public places such as streets, parks, or squares, creating a festive atmosphere.
Alliance Française is an NGO based in Male’ since 2009, teaching the French language and giving an insight into French culture, and promoting cultural diversity. With over 500 students in the city, the NGO is teaching French in public and private schools, in resorts, and conducts evening French classes for adults in the National Library.
According to the AFM 2012 website, the group has chosen to organise monthly events with a view to maintain coherence within the francophone and francophile groups, to facilitate meetings among like minded individuals and spark creative projects.
Founded in Paris in 1884, Alliance Française is a non-profit association giving the opportunity to anyone to learn French language and enjoy the culture of French speaking-countries worldwide, with over 1000 centres across 136 countries.
More information is available on French lessons and cultural events at the Alliance Française website.
Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Interim Vice President Umar Naseer has welcomed the growth of the Jumhoree Party (JP), stating his belief that the party is likely to split the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) vote in future elections.
His comments were said to have been in response to rumours that PPM MPs were considering defecting to the JP.
“Lately rumors have been circulating that some members of PPM’s parliamentary group are planning to switch parties. Many have called me to clarify about the matter. I would like to assure all members of the party that no member of our parliamentary group plan to crossover to another political party, and will never do,” Haveeru reported Naseer as saying.
“JP especially is adding many new members, which is not something of concern to PPM. It’s not like they are removing parts of PPM’s roof to complete theirs – rather, they are removing parts of MDP’s roof to complete their roof,” Naseer was reported to have said.
Feydhoo constituency MP Alhan Fahmy who has recently moved from the MDP to the JP said that he did not wish to respond to these comments. When switching parties, the former Vice President of the MDP was accompanied by the former MDP President, Dr Ibrahim Didi, and former MDP Secretary General Hassan Shah.
The JP – led by prominent Maldivian businessman and MP Ibrahim Gasim – currently has six members in the People’s Majlis, whilst the PPM – led by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – has 18 seats in the house.
The most recent statistics from the Elections Commission (EC) show that the JP has lost six members in the past three weeks, whilst the PPM has gained 322, bringing the official membership figures to 5,914 and 16,565 respectively.
The EC figures also show that the JP has 2,175 forms waiting to be processed. The PPM is shown to have 1,211.
The JP Registrar General Mohamed ‘Inthi’ Imthiyaz told Haveeru earlier this month that the main obstacle increasing the party membership was the speed at which the forms could be processed.
Vice President of the EC Ahmed Fayaz said that the processing of the forms may take a few weeks due to the limited resources available to the commission.
Forms must be checked to ensure the identity of the party member before they can be officially affiliated to one particular party but said it was not common for forms to be rejected.
Should the unprocessed forms be assumed as valid, the membership of the top four parties in terms of popularity would be follows:
Maldivian Democratic Party – 48,843 – 29 seats in the Majlis
Dhivehi Rayithunge Party (DRP) – 27,706 – 15 seats
Progressive Party of Maldives – 17,776 – 18 seats
Jumhoree Party – 8,089 – 6 seats
The MDP is currently the sole opposition party in the 77 member chamber. It has lost 35 party members in the past month as well as suffering from a number of defecting MPs since the resignation of former President Mohamed Nasheed on February 7.
Nasheed recently received the support of 66 percent of his party’s members last month to be the party’s nominee for the next presidential elections.
The PPM’s parliamentary group constituency leader Abdullah Yameen told Haveeru yesterday that his party is the most likely to win a presidential election without having to form a coalition.
“But the PPM must declare a suitable and generally accepted presidential candidate. Then we can certainly avoid a second round, and win the polls in the first round itself,” Yameen said.
The party’s presidential primaries are to be held next February. President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hussein maintains that he can hold fresh elections no earlier than July 2013 without a constitutional amendment.
The largest party, by membership, in the current unity government, the DRP, was keen to stress to Minivan News last week that it had only signed an official coalition agreement with the JP.
“There has been a slight confusion. No coalition agreement was signed – we are part of a national unity government after having accepted an invitation from President Mohamed Waheed Hassan,” explained DRP Spokesperson Ibrahim Shareef.
Shareef’s comments followed the announcement of a joint parliamentary group, including all pro-government parties other than the DRP.
Days earlier, MP for unity government party the Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) declared its cooperation with the DRP to have come to an end following what it perceived to have been DRP support for an MDP proposed motion in the Majlis.
The DRP was founded by former President Gayoom to contest in the country’s first ever multi-party elections in 2008. The party split after internal ructions in 2011 resulting in the formation on the PPM.
The PPM’s official representation in the Majlis was zero until April, when Ahmed Shareef won the party’s first seat in the Thimarafushi by-election.
Since that time, as well as being allowed to add MPs previously registered as ‘independents’ to its parliamentary group, the PPM has benefitted from a number of MPs crossing the floor from other parties.
Former President Gayoom believes that the party’s support will eventually see its official membership figures reach 30,000.
The President’s Office today announced it had begun implementing a work ethics code for all the political appointees except cabinet ministers.
According to the ethics code published in Dhivehi, those bound by the new ethics code are those appointed under article 115(f) of the constitution, by a letter of appointment from the president or cabinet secretary.
The ethics code dictates the code of conduct of the political appointees, their dress code, work timing and procedures for resignation.
The Section 3(c) states that all appointees ‘should’ accept and respect all policy decisions of the government.
It further includes, “Even if there happens to be a difference of opinion on such a policy, the appointee should refrain from expressing their opinions to individuals, the public and the media, and should refrain from writing about it.”
The Section 3(d) also dictates similar requirements for not expressing views that oppose the policy of the government views that are contrary to the appointee’s responsibilities.
Apart from these restrictions, section 3 also demands that all appointees must maintain government secrets both while employed and after they leave the position.
Section 7 of the ethics code states that all appointees should turn up to work before 8:30 am in the morning except during the month of Ramadan, where the start time is 9:30 am.
Similar to the civil servants, according to the section 8 of the ethics code, appointees are also entitled to a 30 day vacation after one year on the job and 10 days ’emergency’ leave, while female staff are entitled to 60 days maternity leave.
Section 9 of the ethics code demands that all the appointees must dress accordingly and should always be at their best turn out while in public.
The section specifically states that men should wear either short or long sleeve shirts with tie, trousers and shoes for men, while female appointees should be in attire that is acceptable to the government.
The President’s office stated that all the appointees must begin to follow the code from July 1, onwards.
Speaking to Minivan News, President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza said that the government believed that such a work ethics code was important and necessary.
“Political appointees are also paid by the state, so the government believes that there should be some regulations on the work of political appointees,” he said.
He added that there previously there was no regulation regarding the work ethics of the political appointees and that he believed that such regulation would increase the “accountability and public confidence” in the political appointees.
The ethics code is the first of such regulations that has been imposed on political appointees in the country.
The code comes at a time where the government of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan has been under heavy criticism from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who alleged that the appointees are family members and activists who took part in the “coup that ousted the democratically elected president.”
Speaking to Minivan News previously, MDP Spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy said that many appointees were “senior activists in leading the coup d’état.”
“Many of them were present in Republican Square on February 7. They are unqualified and inexperienced,” he said at the time.
However, Riza at the time dismissed the allegations stating that the positions were awarded based on political party affiliation and qualifications, not based on “political activity or their presence at a certain place” which he believed reflected President Waheed’s desire to “formulate a national unity government”.
This article first appeared on Dhivehisitee. Republished with permission.
Until Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik took oath of office as President of the Maldives on 7 February, most people did not know much about him, and even more could not care less.
The generally shared impression of Waheed was that he is an educated man who drily stuck to policy, the ex-UNICEF man with a PhD from Stanford. As Vice President he was delegated drugs and environment as focus topics, both issues of great national concern. He seemed to keep well out of the political intrigue and chaos that surrounded him; and, unlike most Members of Parliament and the increasing band of petty politicians, largely managed to stay out of newspaper gossip, and the extremely productive Maldivian grapevine.
He has friends in high places, even if of dubious credentials, like the vacillating British tycoon Sir Richard Branson who first criticised Waheed then admired him then suggested a middle-ground; and the mysterious ‘Malaysian consultant’, Dr Ananda Kumarasiri. Kumarasiri is a best-selling Buddhist author who, when he arrived in Male’ shortly after 7 February, was described as ‘a passing friend.’ But he was allowed to interrupt Waheed during an official press conference, and to speak for him in Sri Lanka.
Abroad, the general impression Waheed seems to have left is that of an affable, likeable man. Even when disagreeing with him, Waheed’s foreign acquaintances make a point of saying they like him.
Branson said, for instance:
It was a real pleasure meeting you and your delightful wife when I was last in the Maldives…
From knowing you, I would assume that you were given no choice and that it was through threats that you have ended up in this position.
And Mike Mason, Nasheed’s Energy Advisor, said this:
I don’t think Dr Waheed is a bad man – actually I like him a lot personally.
Perhaps these men see a side of Waheed that the general Maldivian public do not. Certainly, his interactions with the foreign press are rather jovial and quite the opposite of the dull occasions they are back home.
Truth is, the general Maldivian public did not quite know who Dr Waheed was, and nobody really cared. But, now that he has put himself in the Presidential limelight, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is substantial discord between the image people had constructed of Waheed and the details of his personality emerging since he assumed office on 7 February.
At an early press conference as President, for example, he was asked about allegations of a coup. Waheed replied,”Do I look like a man who would stage a coup d’état?”
Waheed’s belligerence towards those against his presidency came as a shock to most people. A popular recrimination of Waheed among Maldivians is that he is a quitter. In 1989 he ran for Parliament but quit and left the country in 1991 when the going got tough under Gayoom’s repression. He only returned in 2005. People call him ‘Fili Waheed’, ‘Waheed who fled.’
In the last 141 days Waheed has shown that this label no longer applies, if it ever did. He makes his determination to stay President until November 2013 crystal clear. He spelled it out for the BBC earlier this month. Even if CoNI [Commission of National Inquiry] finds that there was a coup on 7 February, unless his direct involvement was proven, he would not leave the post. Even if it means battling it out in court.
If they [the commission] find out that I have had a role in bringing about a coup, then I will definitely resign.
But if I have no role – if somebody else has done it – it doesn’t mean I have to resign, according to the law of the Maldives.
People were properly introduced to this new aspect of Waheed’s personality on 24 February when he gave a rousing speech in ‘Defence of Islam’ to a thousand-strong crowd of supporters. Gone was the refined gentleman of the world, the Westernised academic. Here was an Islamic warrior, calling everyone to join his Jihad and proclaiming Allah had made him President. Again, it wasn’t just words, but his actions; the whole package jarred sharply with the public perception of Waheed.
The previously placid Dr Waheed pumped his fists in the air and addressed his supporters as Mujaheddin. Where did all the rage, the Islamist vocabulary, the sheer bull-headedness, the pelvis-pumping, and the swagger come from?
Waheed’s attempts to deliver his presidential address on 19 March also show his determination to keep his job, and suggest that he quite relishes defeating MDP’s efforts to prove the illegitimacy of his government. Three times he was interrupted mid-sentence during his ‘inaugural address’. Where a less determined man would have crumpled, Waheed battled on and, in a credible impersonation of Arnold Schwarzenneger’s Terminator, told MDP MPs: ‘I’ll be back.’ He was. He delivered the speech.
Since becoming President, he has also shown himself to be remarkably thick-skinned to public humiliation. Led by Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), supporters of Nasheed and reformists have continued to oppose his rule on the streets of Male on a regular basis. When Waheed travels across the country, he has to send ahead armed police and military to line the streets and protect him from protesters.
Waheed has refused to let it get to him. Instead, he seems to have decided on a strategy of ignoring the protesters, claiming – and then sincerely believing – he has 90 percent support among the Maldivian population. He pretends not to hear the calls for early elections, and the public anger against him. When he cannot avoid angry democrats, he waves, smiles, and makes sure at least one smiling child is in the vicinity for a photograph that could be captioned as ‘my supporters love me.’
With time, it has also become clear that although Waheed has set up CoNI to look into the events of 7 February 2012 and Nasheed’s resignation, he remains absolutely convinced that Nasheed was responsible for his own demise. Details of an email exchange between Dr Waheed and Nasheed’s Energy Advisor Mike Mason published by Minivan News this month revealed that in Waheed’s opinion, Nasheed was under the influence of an illegal substance when he decided to resign.
“It would be nice if you listened to something other than Nasheed’s propaganda. He is free to go anywhere he wants and say what ever he wants,” Waheed wrote.
“Have you ever thought that Nasheed could have made a stupid mistake under the influence of what ever he was on and blown everything away? I thought you had more intelligence than to think that I am someone’s puppet and Maldives is another dictatorship,” the President said.
Is Waheed a puppet?
Since the coup, people have come to form a new impression of Waheed: that he is a puppet of political masters above him. In late February, an audio recording was leaked to the local media in which Waheed’s own political advisor was heard describing him as ‘the most incompetent politician in the Maldives.’ From Dr Hassan Saeed’s comments, emerged a Waheed who felt bored and irrelevant within Nasheed’s administration, spending his time playing games on social media networks.
Although it contradicts Waheed’s emerging Hard Man persona, it matches people’s perception of him as a coward and a quitter.
Many incidents have occurred in these 141 days of his presidency to suggest the accusations are not baseless rumours. Waheed’s speech was interrupted live by MP and tourism tycoon Gasim Ibrahim on 24 February. A President who is in command will only be interrupted in public if there is a national emergency (remember this moment?)
or, if someone else is in command.
And then there are the ‘little things.’ Like Waheed paying a courtesy call on Gayoom at Gayoom’s residence after becoming president. Protocol dictates the visit be the other way round. When President Mahmood Abbas of Palestine paid a visit, on invitation from President Nasheed, it was impossible to say who the official host was, Gayoom or Waheed.
Waheed also seems incapable of stopping involvement of the supernatural in law enforcement practices–a hallmark of Gayoom’s thirty-year rule–that have returned to haunt Maldivian politics in the last three months. The general impression of Waheed as the well-travelled ex-UN-official cannot be easily reconciled with a Commander in Chief who lets his armed forces pursue, prosecute, and punish people for ‘practising sorcery.’
Another factor that further indicates Waheed is far from being in control of the government is his relations with the Islamists. Perhaps because he worked in Afghanistan, and saw first hand the dangers of extremist religion in the twenty-first century, countering Islamism in the Maldives seemed to be of some concern to Waheed. In October 2010, for example, he told Indians that ‘rising extremism‘ posed a challenge to the Maldives.
Yet, he gave that 24 February speech about the Mujaheddin, and allowed himself to be criticised for attending a ceremonial service at St Paul’s in London marking the British Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
In May, convicted terrorist Mohamed Ameen who detonated a bomb in Male’s main tourist thoroughfare was released from prison, while this month Islamists attempted to murder the country’s only openly gay rights activist and campaigner for a secular Maldives, Hilath Rasheed. On 7 February itself, extremists vandalised the National Museum and destroyed age-old Buddhist relics.
Waheed has remained silent on such critical incidents while key members of his cabinet have told the international community that threats from Islamism in the Maldives are exaggerated.
Also, thanks to a purple-prose column published on Haveeru [in Dhivehi] recently commemorating the 25th aniversary of Dr Waheed’s PhD degree, the public has come to know that his dissertation was on the subject of political influence over national education curricula. Yet, he has not made a stand against the Islamist Adhaalath Party’s continuing efforts to meddle with the national curriculum. And he most certainly did not stand up against Adaalath, and key political figures, for their criticism of Nasheed as anti-Islamic when Washington Post reported that:
While he [Nasheed] was in power, he says, he changed the school curriculum to make it “more balanced and not so Islamic” and proposed a new penal code less dependent on Islamic sharia law.
It is surprising that a man so proud of his academic credentials that he thinks its 25th anniversary is an occasion deserving of national attention, fails to stand up for the core arguments of his own work. Such weakness of principles does suggest a corresponding weakness in character, making it very plausible that Waheed is, indeed, a puppet being controlled by an unspecified master or masters.
Despite his many weaknesses in the face of the varying demands and beliefs of the so-called Unity Government, should Waheed really be dismissed as a mere puppet?
It is just as, if not more, plausible that his ‘inability’ to take action is precisely the terms of the deal he agreed to with the so-called Opposition Coalition in the early hours of the morning of 31 January 2012.
The rewards for Waheed the President, even if a very short-term president, are rich. Apart from the usual perks of travelling the country and the world in full national honour, influence and global profile, there are also the many benefits for his nearest and dearest.
Almost all members of his family in Male’ and of working age are now in high-ranking government positions or in lucrative positions as board members of various national and international businesses and associations. His son Jeffery Salim Waheed, was promoted from an Intern at the Maldives Permanent Mission to the UN to First Secretary shortly after Waheed assumed office. Salim Waheed was previously a vocal campaigner for democracy but has now become a crusader for his father’s cause.
@yaamyn @velezinee shame. I guess his lies worked. Being held hostage, held at gun point, res letter in MNDF HQ, assassination attempt…
Judging from what other key players in the Opposition Coalition have said, Waheed’s deal with them also includes a promise that he will not run for presidency in 2013. Umar Naseer, the outspoken Vice President of Gayoom’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has told the media several times that he ‘knows’ Waheed will not run in 2013. So far, Gasim Ibrahim from the Jumhooree Party (JP), Thasmeen Ali from Dhivehi Rayyithun ge Party (DRP) and Nasheed have declared their intention to run in 2013. Waheed has stayed silent.
The silence suggests Umar Naseer, as usual, is speaking from first-hand knowledge of the behind the scenes strategising by the Unity Government. Waheed’s share of the pie for helping topple Nasheed seems to be twenty-one months as President, and full immunity from prosecution at the end of his term with full benefits and privileges accorded to former presidents. A life of luxury abroad–preferably in America and desirably inclusive of frequent socialising with the Obamas, and perhaps working the lecture circuits à la Clinton and Blair, is what Waheed is looking forward to once he completes his part of the deal.
This suggests that Waheed is more pragmatist than puppet. Someone who knew exactly what he wanted–the Presidency of the Republic of Maldives–and got it. It mattered little to him how. Dismissing Waheed as a puppet would be a mistake.
All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]
Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad has claimed “several government offices” unable to cut their budgets by 15 percent ahead of a June 20 deadline were now working on submitting “revisions” for their spending.
Jihad told Minivan News today that the Finance Ministry was presently providing assistance to several departments that had failed to curb spending within deadlines set by the government. The finance minister did not specify which offices had failed to make the required spending cuts within the time period.
According to Sun Online, government offices and councils were requested to enact a 15 percent cut to their budgets by June 15. Independent institutions were meanwhile asked to reduce their outgoings by the same amount by June 20.
The cabinet took the decision last month to approve 15 percent spending cuts within government institutions in an attempt to reduce the state budget by Rf2 billion, according to the report.
Official government figures have indicated that inflation rose to an annual rate of 16.53 percent in April. Earlier in the year, the Finance Committee estimated that the current budget deficit would reach 27 percent of GDP, or Rf9.1 billion (US$590 million).
Minivan News yesterday took part in the sixth annual Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race, alongside 2,500 other enthusiastic competitors.
Local telecoms company Dhiraagu initially started the event in 2007 as a way of promoting healthier lifestyles for Maldivians. The road race was organised in collaboration with the Athletics Association of the Maldives who conducted the timing.
Organisers and participating charity groups set up the start/finish area at the Raalhugandu surf point area, hoisting flags, painting a finish line, and working hard to ensure the event would get off to a smooth start.
The Minivan team began to have doubts about its preparations after checking the official road race website. Practising before the event was the first of the tips given to race entrants. Minivan’s preparations for the race consisted largely of having written an article about it six weeks before.
Hundreds of locals gathered at Raahlugandu to see the runners off. Competitors were provided with t-shirts, isotonic drinks, visors to keep the sun from their eyes, and even small flags, bearing the sponsor’s logo, to carry round the course.
Team Minivan brought with it a notoriously bad back, a cracked rib, and only two pairs of running shoes between three people.
As the runners assembled at the start line, the event’s organisers worked the crowd, calling on everyone to raise their hands and cheer to show their support for the event’s main theme – the campaign against child abuse and domestic violence.
The race began at 4:30pm, skirting the five kilometres around the outside of Male’. Crowds thronged the initial few hundred metres, cheering the runners on as the contenders for the cash prize were quickly separated from the ‘also-rans’.
The prizes included Rf 8000 (US$520) for first in the professionals group and Rf 5000 (US$325) for the winners of the amateur categories – under 40s and over 40s.
Five minutes into the race at Republican Square, Minivan’s ‘also-rans’ decided it would be a shame to run past one of the cities’ more scenic areas and slowed to a walk to enjoy the surroundings. Further on, the smell of the fish market prompted the team to pick up the pace once more.
A number of local NGOs and charity organisations used the event to publicise their causes. Child Abuse Prevention Show (CAPS) and Advocating Rights for Children (ARC) were present, raising awareness on childrens rights. Educating the attendees on women’s right were the General Advocacy Working Group (GAWG), and Hope for Women.
Whilst dodging oncoming traffic at the halfway stage, the Minivan team were prevented from catching a taxi after realising they had left all their rufiya at home.
At around 4:48pm the top contenders for prizes rounded the corner by the tsunami monument as the crowd roared its approval for Male’s top runners.
Meanwhile – or perhaps a little later – at around three quarters of the way round the course, the Minivan News team was forced to stop for reasons that were, again, in no way related to their lack of physical fitness. Accounts of this section of the race are blurry but the team did resume running after being overtaken by the same small boy for the third time.
The oldest participant in the race was 57 years old, whilst the youngest was just five years old. Mohamed Mazin became the first blind runner to complete the race. Mazin received training from Mohamed Hanim, whose nine year old daughter accompanied Mazin round the course. The Maldives Blind Association was also present at the race staging area.
Upon running past the ‘stop-speeding’ poster on the southern section of Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the Minivan Team became confused and opted to halt its break-neck pace once more, walking for a section whilst it considered its legal obligations.
At the finish line, grateful runners were provided with more water, energy drinks and fresh fruit to re-energise. Those not competing in the race continued to soak up the atmosphere – children to small to take part were entertained with balloons and face-painting.
Nearing Dharubaaruge, the Minivan News team, drawing on its reserves and spurred on by the crowd, pushed on to cross the finish line at around the 37 minute mark. The race rules stated that 45 minutes was the maximum time allowed to officially complete the race.
Minivan hopes to use its surplus of eight minutes to win next year’s race which it, alongside all those who participated in yesterday’s race, will be very much looking forward to.
The official results for all the categories are expected to be announced on Monday.
Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee has this week begun a review of the Business Registration Bill returned to the People’s Majlis by President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, after it was originally approved in April.
The President’s Office told Minivan News that the bill, initially proposed under the previous government, had been returned over fears about the impacts it could have on the country’s economy at the present time.
Official government figures indicated that inflation had risen to an annual rate of 16.53 percent in April. Earlier in the year, the Finance Committee estimated that the current budget deficit would reach 27 percent of GDP, or Rf9.1 billion (US$590 million).
The government meanwhile announced this week that it had already been issued with a Rf300million (US$19.5 million) government loan from the Bank of Maldives (BML), despite questions being raised over whether the deal needed Majlis approval.
The government had previously asked for parliamentary approval for the budget support loan in place of an existing $65 million (Rf1 billion) loan that had been approved for the 2012 budget. The President’s Office claimed the funding, devised as part of a “mop up” operation, would help “reduce the circular flow of rufiya in the economy” adding it would not exacerbate the current national spending shortfall.
While unfamiliar with the latest amendments being proposed to the Business Registration Bill, a former Economic Development Minister who served under the previous government claimed the legislation had originally been devised in an attempt to simplify the registration of foreign investors.
However, President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza said that the bill was deemed by the present government to represent the implementation of a new tax regime in the country – a decision he suggested was unreasonable considering the current economic climate.
“At a time where as I’m sure you are aware, the economy is beginning to improve, the president and the cabinet has agreed that the time is simply not right to introduce new taxes,” he said.
According to local newspaper Haveeru, President Waheed’s concerns regarding the bill were said to include “Article 3 (e)”, which relates to services provided for islands beyond the capital of Male’. The report said that the nature of these services was believed to be unclear in the original drafting of the bill.
The president was also reported to have raised an issue with a perceived failure in the bill to specify a “process” required for the registration of a foreign branch of a company in the Maldives. The government therefore requested the removal of “Article 5 (b)” as well as a number of amendments relating to the registration of a branch of a foreign company in the Maldives, raising concern over a lack of specifics related to the use of the term “foreigners”.
When questioned by Minivan News, Abbas did not specify the exact nature of the potential “legal and socio-economic ramifications” that had concerned the government about the Business Registration Bill.
The bill was one of three pieces of legislation related to economic reform returned to parliament for revision last month on the basis of issues raised by Attorney General Azima Shukoor.
The exact nature of these concerns was not detailed by the President’s Office at the time, while the attorney general was also not responding to calls today about the nature of the government’s decision to return the bill.
Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad meanwhile forwarded Minivan News to the Ministry of Economic Development concerning an enquiry on the Business Registration Bill. Economic Development Minister Ahmed Mohamed was not responding to calls.
Reform package
Although unfamiliar with the latest proposals for amendments to the Business Registration Bill, Mahmoud Razee, Economic Development Minister under the previous government, said the legislation was original proposed as part of a wider economic reform package championed by Nasheed’s administration.
The reforms, introduced under the previous government, were further revised following consultations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over how to strengthen and stabilise the economy.
These policies included introducing a general Goods and Services Tax (GST); raising import duties on pork, tobacco, alcohol and plastic products; raising the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST) to 6 percent; and reducing import duties on certain products.
Razee stressed that registration bill was intended specifically to provide a “clearer means” for facilitating foreign investment within the Maldives’ business sector.
“We were trying to make it easier to register foreign shareholders here,” he said.
Taking the retail sector as an example, Razee said that the retail sector was quite “restrictive” in terms of encouraging foreign investment.
For those interested in exploring the diversity of Indian arts, culture and language, the Indian Cultural Center (ICC) is the place to be. Since its opening in July 2011, the centre has been an important platform, where Indians and Maldivians are building friendships through vibrant cultural and linguistic exchanges.
Hundreds of participants, both locals and foreigners alike are today part of the diverse programs run by the Indian Cultural Center. Many are exploring the world of Indian mother tongue and poetry while others are enjoying the experience of Indian classical dance Kathak or classical drumming, Tabla.
Similarly, to those who wants to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy capital Male’, the cultural center offers its best – rejuvenating and relaxing yoga classes.
And, the best part of all, every program is offered free. No charges.
“This is a cultural window to India”, ICC Director Dr.Mishra Amrendhra told Minivan News on Wednesday night, following the launch of a new Hindi learning program at the centre.
Currently over 40 centers are opened worldwide, to provide people to the opportunity to learn Indian culture and language, he observed.
Speaking at the ceremony Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives DM Muley said that “we have lost a lot in our culture and language” and today more than ever people are becoming “more segregated in domestic and narrow corners”.
“There are invisible walls that divide us,” he pointed out. “But it is absolutely imaginary”, and “a phobia cultivated and encouraged by few with selfish interests.”
Therefore, he streesed that “language of humanity” and “attitude of helping each other” needs to be developed through promoting language and culture.
He praised ICC’s efforts, saying that the objective of opening the center seems to have been partially fulfilled. “I welcome all interested in Indian language and culture to join the centre.”
According to ICC Director Mishra, the centre is already receiving a “tremendous response” from the Maldivians, in addition to Indian expatriates and other foreign nationals working in the Maldives.
He added that several Maldivian students are going for higher studies under the center’s scholarship program and plans are underway to sign a cultural exchange agreement between the two government’s.
Currently 250 students, including several Maldivians, are part of the yoga classes running everyday in four batches.
Yoga teacher Sonika spoke to Minivan News about the keenness among the Maldivian participants in her class and how yoga are changing their lives.
“It is a great stress buster,” Sonika noted. “After regular yoga classes, some local students have found out that the cysts in their uteruses have disappeared. Many had joint and thyroid problems too. But, now they they are also feeling much healthier and energetic,” she continued.
“You should join my class. There are free slots. You will feel much light inside and it be be a journey to self evolution,” she added with a smile.
Meanwhile, Mishra pointed out that there have been some interest from local groups to explore fusions of Tabla and the Maldivian classical drumming, Bodu Beru. Although, Maldivian students participating in the Kathak dancing classes few, the center is hopeful that it will attract more students.
Among the few learning the dance is 20 year-old Naufa Nizam and her sister. At Wednesday night’s ceremony Naufa recited a poem she wrote in Hindi, so eloquently that no one would have guessed she’s a Maldivian until they heard her reciting the poem’s translation in Dhivehi.
Naufa told Minivan News: “I’ve always adored poetry since I was a kid. My mother is in the yoga class that’s how I came to know about the centre. I am participating in the Kathak dancing class too,” she added.
Meanwhile, sitting next to her was her sister, dressed in the highly ornately embroidered and decorated Kathak traditional costume consisting of a sari, with loose ankle-length skirt, and the choli, a tight fitting blouse – ready for the dance performance.
“But I don’t perform in front of a crowd,” said Naufa, who is an A-level student of Arabbiya School and student of Law foundation program at Maldives National University. “You know, it’s because of the burqa (head scarf).”
“But it doesn’t matter. I know myself that I know this dance,” she smiled. “I love this place.”
Note: Indian Cultural Center is opened at H.Vavathi, fourth floor. Those interested to join the centre programs can call 330 6612
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