Tag: maldives

President signs GST bill into law

President Mohamed Nasheed has ratified the “Goods and Services Tax Bill” (GST), which was passed at Parliament’s 34th meeting of the term last Monday. The President signed the bill into law at a function on Fuvahmulah today.

The GST bill was published today in the government’s gazette.

The tax bill is divided by type of sale. Sales are defined as either tourism goods and services, or goods and services for sectors other than tourism.

The points addressed by the GST bill include collection, exemptions, duration of taxation, methods of calculation, and registration of taxable activities.

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Newly-decreed uninhabited islands to be resort, airport

The Bilhifeyshi area and Thoon’du area of Fuvahmulah have been officially recognised as uninhabited islands.

President Mohamed Nasheed signed decrees for both islands during a special meeting at Fuvahmulah, which addressed development projects for the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The President said the two islands will be used for tourism. Development on these islands will be overseen by Fuvahmulaku Development Corporation Limited, a government company that was also created today.

Resort construction will begin at what was formerly Thoon’du area next week. Plans to build an airport at Bilhifeyshi area island are underway.

Development of these islands will be in accordance with the government’s social and economic development policies. The plan is said to provide more opportunities for local business investment and job growth.

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Yameen announces intention to join Gayoom’s party, run in presidential primary

Opposition People’s Alliance (PA) Leader Abdulla Yameen has announced his intention to sign up for the new political party recently advertised by his half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, reports Haveeru.

The MP from Mulaku told Haveeru that Gayoom’s creation of a new political party was “widely requested” and due to “no other choice”. He said MPs from PA and Gayoom’s opposition faction had voiced concerns that  the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) was not fulfilling its duties.

The PA will not be dissolved in the wake of Yameen’s departure, Haveeru reported. Instead the party would form a coalition with the new, as yet unnamed party. Yameen told Haveeru that he was no longer involved in the People’s Alliance.

Yameen further announced that intends to run in the new party’s presidential primary. He added that he will support whoever the party chooses for the 2013 presidential election.




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Shaviyani man arrested for molesting one year-old daughter

A man from Shaviyani Atoll was arrested last Thursday on the island of Kulhuduffushi in Haa Dhaal Atoll for allegedly molesting his one-year-old daughter.

The man, who is married to a woman from Kulhuduffushi, was described as older but is not known to have a criminal record, according to Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam.

The abuse was discovered by a younger sister in the family, Shiyam said.

After notifying the island’s Family and Children Services Centre, the family took the baby to a nearby hospital for inspection.

“Doctors confirmed that the baby had been sexually abused, and we are investigating to see how long this has been going on,” Shiyam said.

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Independent Bodies Committee reviews ACC, JSC, and others

Parliament’s Independent Bodies Committee is reviewing the activities of independent state groups, reports Haveeru. Among the groups reviewed are the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The committee, chaired by independent MP Mohamed Nasheed, is assessing the challenges to productivity among certain state groups. Nasheed said the committee will also review opportunities for growth.

The committee is said to have found some significant reasons for concern.

Nasheed said these issues would be addressed with budget reform measures and amendments to existing laws.

A report on the committee’s findings is due before parliament in October.

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Search for missing Japanese husband persists

Maldivian authorities are working with the Japanese Embassy in Colombo to find the husband of the Japanese woman whose body washed up at the Adaaran Huduranfushi Island Resort last week.

A female body found on August 21 was confirmed to belong to the Japanese woman, age 28, who went missing from the resort with her husband, age 37, on August 17, reports Haveeru.

Local police officials said the body had decomposed after several days in the water, and DNA tests were needed to confirm it’s identity.

Preliminary investigations show drowning as a cause of death. There was no clear indication of foul play.

Management at Adaaran Huduranfushi discovered that the couple had gone missing after they missed two consecutive meals. Resort management immediately notified local authorities, who launched a search for the couple.

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Three MNDF officers arrested on robbery charges

Police have arrested three officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) accused of entering an expatriate residence in Male’ in army uniform and robbing the Bangladeshi workers with threats of violence.

Lance Corporal Ali Ibrahim, 26, of Lhaviyani Hinnavaru Aaramuge, and Private Hussein Mahir, 23, of Laamu Mundhoo Finifenmaage, were taken into custody Monday night with stolen cash.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told Minivan News today that the third suspect, Saad Ibrahim, of Kaafu Gaafaru Noovina, was arrested yesterday after conducting a search for the accomplice.

All three were working at the MNDF coastguard. Ali Ibrahim, who joined the force in November 2004, was employed at coastguard operations while Hussein Mahir, who joined in June 2008, was a security officer at the coastguard building.

In a statement on Tuesday (August 30), the MNDF said it was “working with the police to take the harshest legal action possible” against the errant officers.

According to local media reports, the three officers robbed the expatriate workers living in Maafanu Pink Rose on Fareedhee Magu on a number of occasions during Ramadan.

Newspaper Haveeru reported that the uniformed officers entered the house on three consecutive nights and took Rf30,000 (US$1,945), Rf24,000 (US$1,556) and Rf12,000 (US$778) respectively.

The two officers were reportedly confronted by members of the public on the third night, who informed the police.

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STO plans new storage facility in Haa Alif atoll

The National Planning Council has approved the State Trading Organisation (STO)’s plan to build an oil storage facility on an unidentified island in the north’s Haa Alif atoll.

The facility would cover 600 square metres and contain over 200 tons of oil, reports Haveeru. It is said to be 10 times the size of a similar facility at Funadhoo.

STO’s Managing Director, Shahid Ali said studies show the project would benefit the Maldivian economy. He said it has already drawn the interest of foreign investors.

The project is awaiting approval from the Cabinet.

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DRP Deputy Leader “disappointed” in party, considers resignation

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed may resign from his post, reports Haveeru.

MP Ilham Ahmed, of Gemanfushi, is allegedly disappointed with some of the DRP’s internal matters. Ilham told Haveeru that party leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali appeared to be too close with the government, and said tax reform was one area of concern.

Ilham said he would decide whether to resign in the next 2-3 days.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who Ilham allegedly supports, has given the same deadline for his announcement of a new political party.

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