Tag: President Nasheed

SAARC carnival planning underway

A South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Carnival will complement the November SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Addu City and Fuvammulah, President Mohamed Nasheed said in his radio address last weekend.

Various exhibitions and cultural events by local and regional groups are being planned for the carnival, which scheduled for the first two weeks of November.

Preparations for the SAARC summit have brought new infrastructure and development to Addu. The president said the summit would also give greater exposure to development projects and business ventures in the Maldives, and create new markets for Maldivian exports.

The two-day SAARC summit, grouping eight nations, will open on November 10.

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Government plans to sell alcohol at Fuvahmulah city hotel, claims Adhaalath

The government has declared two areas of Fuvahmulah uninhabited islands for airport and tourism development in order to allow the sale of alcohol at a city hotel, yet to be opened on the island, the religiously conservative Adhaalath party has alleged.

President Mohamed Nasheed signed decrees on Friday declaring the “Bilhifeyshi” and “Thoon’du” areas of Fuvahmulah – two strips on opposite ends of the island – as uninhabited islands to be utilised for tourism purposes.

At a press conference yesterday, Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Adhaalath Party spokesperson, said that the decrees were part of a “Satanic plot” to sidestep legal prohibitions to selling alcohol in inhabited islands.

“We are not opposed at all to building a city hotel for the development of Fuvahmulah,” he said. “But you don’t have to sell alcohol at every city hotel. Adhaalath party sees the declaration of uninhabited islands within Fuvahmulah as an absurd move, as an act of madness.”

The decision was “disrespectful” in light of the public’s opposition to the sale of alcohol in inhabited islands, Shaheem continued, referring to a large demonstration in February 2010 that forced the government to withdraw controversial new regulations that would have allowed sale of alcohol to non-Muslims from city hotels.

Fuvahmulah“If the government wants us to let them hear the voice of the people again, we are ready to do it,” Shaheem said, calling on citizens of Fuvahmulah and the public to “raise your voices against this decision by the government.”

President’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair however dismissed Adhaalath’s allegations today as intended to “seek political recognition and cast the government in a bad light.”

Zuhair said the Adhaalath’s claims were “very insincere” as the party did not make any inquiries, request a meeting with the President to express concerns or “even sent a letter to relevant authorities before giving a press conference and making these claims in the media.”

The remarks by Adhaalath leaders were “regrettable,” Zuhair added, as the party remains a coalition partner of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and its senior members included the Minister and State Minister for Islamic Affairs.

Meanwhile at yesterday’s press conference, Adhaalath Party Vice President Dr Mauroof Hussein claimed President Nasheed “pressured” Fuvahmulah councillors to approve a resolution for developing the city hotel.

Dr Mauroof argued that the President’s decree set a disturbing precedent: “Tomorrow they can announce that President Nasheed has decreed the inner walls of Holiday Inn [now Trader’s Hotel] is an uninhabited island. Or the plot west of the army headquarters is an uninhabited island and demolish the Islamic Centre to build a bar there,” he said.

The government was pursuing an agenda to “spread irreligious activities” in the Maldives, Dr Mauroof warned.

Economies of scale

Speaking at a function in Fuvahmulah on Friday, President Nasheed expressed confidence that the construction of an airport in the island would be completed by November 10.

Nasheed said that the government understood the people’s longstanding desire for an airport but insisted that the investment should be sustainable.

In addition to operating costs, said Nasheed, about Rf500,000 would have to be spent “on interest [payments] alone.”

“It is not clear to me that we can recover this money with about 30 people flying to Fuvahmulah from Male’ every week,” he explained. “With development, especially national development, we have to consider that every project has to be sustainable, well-rounded and feasible.”

In order to ensure financial sustainability for the airport, he continued, the government intends to build a tourist hotel in Fuvahmulah in collaboration with a business partner.

“We don’t want to criticise, meddle and try to profit [from the hotel] in Male’,” he said. “When the facilities are used for your development, the whole population of the Maldives will benefit from it. A number of things that can be done to ensure feasibility of the airport can be seen in the environment of Fuvahmulah, in its natural resources.”

President Nasheed said the decision to declare the two areas non-inhabited was made following deliberations by the cabinet and consultation with Fuvahmulah councillors.

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State funeral held for late Corporal Shaukath

A state funeral was given last evening in Raa atoll Alifushi for the corporal who was shot dead during a training exercise yesterday at Laamu atoll Kadhoo. The funeral was attended by the corporal’s family, state officials and heads of the armed forces, reports Haveeru News.

The body of Corporal Ibrahim Shaukath, 32 of Shabaana/Raa atoll Alifushi was buried at the island’s cemetery following the Taraweeh prayer, said during Ramadan, and a seven-gun salute.

President Mohamed Nasheed yesterday sent his condolences to the corporal’s family, and assured the late Shaukath’s father that a full investigation of the incident was underway.

The President told Shaukath’s father that he was “deeply shocked and saddened” when told of the incident.

Shaukath was completing Body Guard training in preparation for November’s South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation when he was shot in the head in the late morning of Sunday, August 28. Military officials have said the soldiers were using live ammunition, and that it was not unusual.

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Profits grow, crime drops this Ramandan

The President’s Office has announced that fishermen’s income has been increasing steadily over the past few months, while the price of fish has remained constant.

President Mohamed Nasheed said the government aims to support income growth for fishermen, and provided there are no changes to the industry’s current operations, profit levels will be maintained.

Speaking in his weekly radio address, the President further stated that retailers have reporters higher profits this Ramadan than in recent years. He noted that market prices have been controlled, and said the Maldivian economy was moving in the right direction.

Crime ratings have dropped in the past few months, and violent crime rates are notably low, the President claimed.

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Bridge needed between Male’ and Hulhumale’, says President

President Mohamed Nasheed has said it is necessary for the government to built a bridge connecting the islands of Male’ and Hulhumale’ to improve transportation and development on both islands. This statement was made after the President presented documents of guarantee to flat recipients in Hulhumale’, as provided by the Veshi Fahi Male’ de-congestion program.

The President said a ferry system was insufficient to accommodate the growing populations on both islands.

The Veshi Fahi Male’ housing project is expected to add 10,000 flats to Hulhumale’. 8,000 flats are currently being constructed.

2500 flats were said to be built under Phase 2 of the Gulhifalhu development project, which is set to begin next month, reported the President’s Office.

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Hulhumale’ plots awarded to 94 residents of Male’

President Mohamed Nasheed presented guarantees of land acquisition to 94 recipients under the first phase of the government’s flagship “Veshi Fahi” Male’ (de-congestion) programme.

The first ten recipients under Category A of the programme were awarded land guarantees on July 26 at a ceremony to open the Veshi Fahi Male’ office.

In his remarks at last night’s ceremony at the President’s Office, President Nasheed said that he believed it was within the government’s means to construct a bridge between Male’ and Hulhumale’ as a ferry system was insufficient in itself.

The construction of 2,500 flats in Gulhifalhu is meanwhile expected to begin next month under the second phase of the Gulhifalhu Development Project, Nasheed continued.

President Nasheed explained that more plots could not be awarded in Hulhumale’ as the remaining space was intended for communal use and government or public buildings.

Of the government’s pledged 10,000 flats, said Nasheed, construction agreements had been signed for 8,000 flats or housing units.

Nasheed claimed that the construction industry was booming and that foreign investment had “increased 1000 percent” compared to the previous years.

Male’ City Councillor “Sarangu” Adam Manik, director of the Veshi Fahi Male’ programme, meanwhile said that thousands of applications by residents of Male’ under different categories were currently being processed.

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President hands out leaflets on economic reform agenda

President Mohamed Nasheed and senior officials of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) handed out flyers and leaflets containing information of the government’s economic reform agenda near the tsunami memorial area in Male’ yesterday.

Haveeru reported that President Nasheed, cabinet ministers and some MPs started distributing leaflets at the area after 4:30pm yesterday.

MDP meanwhile launched a door-to-door campaign last week to raise awareness among the public of the proposed economic reforms, including the introduction of direct taxation, deregulation and encouraging private ownership of land.

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Government to withdraw no-confidence against MMA Governor

The government will withdraw a no-confidence motion against Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Fazeel Najeeb, President Mohamed Nasheed announced last night.

Briefing press about a meeting with opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen, President Nasheed said that he did not believe the motion should be carried forward at a time when the government had proposed sweeping economic reforms.

“In my view, it should not be brought to the floor,” he said. “I will inform the Speaker of Parliament in a letter [Sunday] to this effect. I feel that we will need Fazeel Najeeb’s experience at a time when we are bringing major changes to the government’s economic and fiscal policy and we should acknowledge the work that he has done.”

He added that the government believed it could “go forward” with Fazeel Najeeb as the governor of MMA.

The President’s announcement comes after a five member sub-committee of the opposition-dominated Public Accounts Committee evaluated the complaints against Najeeb and declared the stated nine reasons “baseless.”

On the charge of not attending MMA board meetings, the sub-committee found that Najeeb had chaired 82 percent of the central bank’s board meetings.

The sub-committee consisted of MPs ‘Colonel’ Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Abdul Raheem from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and MPs Ali Azim and Dr Abdulla Mausoom from the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

Local media however reported today that parliamentary procedure might not allow the motion to be withdrawn at this stage, with the Public Accounts Committee due to present its report to the floor.

In March this year, the MDP parliamentary group called for Najeeb’s dismissal, accusing him of “repeatedly failing to fulfill his legal obligations.”

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Weekly state expenditure to be made public

The government will publicise details of weekly state expenditure starting from next month, President Mohamed Nasheed announced Monday night at the launching of the government’s “Fiscal and Economic Reform Programme.”

In his speech at the ceremony, President Nasheed stressed that “every single coin we get is the property of the Maldivian people and wealth created by Maldivian businessmen.”

“Along with a tax system, what we need the most is a transparent mechanism for expenditures,” he said. “For that mechanism to be perfect is essential for us to successfully implement the [taxation] system.”

At Monday night’s ceremony, captains of the tourism industry unreservedly endorsed the economic reform agenda, consisting of 18 pieces of legislation to introduce direct taxation, excise import duties, encourage private ownership of land and facilitate ease of doing business.

President Nasheed went on to say that details of government revenue and expenses should be clear to the public through independent institutions, such as the Auditor General, the Anti-Corruption Commission and parliament.

“It might be difficult for this government to instill this habit among us,” he continued. “However, it is absolutely necessary for governments to come and future generations. No ruler should consider anymore that assets of the Maldivian state belongs to him.”

On how proceeds from the new taxes are to be utilised, Nasheed reiterated the core pledges of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which include providing affordable housing, lowering cost of living, establishing transport networks, ensuring universal health insurance and combating drug abuse and trafficking.

President Nasheed observed that taxation was introduced in other countries after “serious unrest, conflict between the public and businessmen and with some countries plunging into civil war.”

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