Archive for 'News'
Marble Guest House has been checked for suspicion of rape
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
The famous Marble Guest House, located near West Park, has been check for suspicion of rape. Last midnight police were informed by locals that they heard a girl shouting from one of the apartments situated in the guest house. To read more click the following link
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President Nasheed has not asked to control selling dollars – MMA
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Maldives Monetary Authority has said that President Nasheed had never asked MMA to reduce the sales of dollars and the MMA had never sent such instructions to Banks operating in the Maldives.
MMA’s response came in a letter dated 26 January answering an earlier letter by the Labor Party.
Letter also said that because of the economic recession since mid 2007, revenues generated in the Maldives from foreign financing had also declined and the government has no alternative but to print more money, which had declined the foreign currency reserves in the country.
But MMA also said that it did sell foreign currency to a certain fixed sealing during 2009 and MMA is continuing to do so during 2010.
“MMA wishes to note that it does not employ any hidden agendas on the Maldivian economy. MMA is doing its best to recover from the economic crisis, to maintain the exchange rate, stabilize financial markets and the policies adopted by the MMA is well received by the International Financial Institutions, including World Bank, IMF and ADB” it noted.
Steps by the MMA include establishing a ceiling for selling dollars and transferring all the loans issued by MMA to government as treasury bonds, quitting printing money and auctioning t-bills to private parties.
Letter also stated that MMA is working very hard to stabilize the economy and stabilize the macro-economic environment of the country and introducing regulatory frameworks for financial markets.
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HRCM requests the government to change the Fishermen’s Day
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
HRCM has asked the government to consider changing the Fishermen’s Day, which is presently marked on 10 December every year, along with the International Human Rights Day. One important reason given for the change is that the International Human Rights Day was designated by the United Nations in 1948 and has been celebrated as one of the most important days marked all over the world. Another reason cited for the change is that due national importance is not given to any one of these two days when both days are commemorated on the same day.
At a time when the country is in transition from an imperfect democracy to genuine democracy, marking 10 December exclusively as the Human Rights Day in Maldives will demonstrate the importance Maldives attaches to instilling throughout the Maldives a culture that respects human rights, and will help in celebrating the day more colorfully than at present. Celebrating the two occasions separately will also, no doubt, enable each day to be given due importance in its own right.
Maldives Fishermen’s Association, a local organization which represents Maldivian fishermen, has also discussed this issue with HRCM and requested HRCM to do whatever it can to convince the government about the importance of this change, and pledged their support to celebrate Fishermen’s Day and Human Rights Day separately.
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Government to establish a housing scheme without lot system
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Minister of Housing, Transport and Environment has said that the government is establishing a system in which people who work can earn a home by monthly payments, without having participated in the current lot system.
Minister said that the main aim of the programme is to ease the families which find paying large down payments.
He also said that the scheme would be managed by a regulation set out by the Housing Development Cooperation and the member in the programme would be eligible from the day he joins the programme. Minister Aslam also said that the exact dates which he would receive a home would also be informed to him by the programme.
He also said that people who find it difficult to pay for such programmes from their pockets would get the opportunity to do so through Social Protection Scheme.
Schemes in which a family pays monthly payments for a home which will ultimately earn them a home once the threshold is received is a programme run in many countries successfully.
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President appoints State Ministers for provinces
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
President Mohamed Nasheed has today appointed the Ministers of State for Home Affairs in provinces as Ministers of State for their designated provinces.
President Nasheed presented their Letters of Appointment at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon.
Ministers of State appointed for provinces are as follows.
1. Minister of State, Upper North Province Mohamed Hunaif
2. Minister of State, North Central Province Mohamed Naeem
3. Minister of State, Central Province, Farooq Mohamed Hassan
4. Minister of State, South Central Province Ahmed Mujthaba
5. Minister of State, Upper South Province Umar Jamal
6. Minister of State, South Province Mohamed Naseer
Speaking after presenting Letters of Appointment, President Nasheed said the government wanted to carry out the decentralization process within a legal framework. However, he noted that that the absence of legislation was not a reason to prevent people from fully enjoying the rights prescribed in the Constitution.
Furthermore, he urged the State Ministers to discharge their duties with the best interest of the people in mind.
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Government welcomes the IMF statement
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
The Maldivian government welcomes the statement issued by Mr. Rodrigo Cuberto, mission Chief for the Maldives of the International Monetary Fund on the implementation of fiscal adjustment measures.
The IMF statement clearly reaffirms support for the government’s economic policy; in particular the plans to reduce spending on public sector wages and in implementing budget restrictions and control.
The new administration inherited unprecedented levels of debt from the previous regime.
In order to ensure economic stability and long term prosperity, it is essential that the government breaks away from the reckless policies of the past, reduces spending and brings the budget deficit under control.
The IMF statement warns that if expenditure on public sector wages increases, the economic situation in the country will deteriorate, as inflation rises and the money in people’s pockets is not worth as much at the market.
The IMF also notes that an increase in the government wage bill may jeopardize prospects for international support for the Maldives, threatening economic recovery.
The government is determined to ensure long term economic stability and prosperity.
Increasing civil servants’ salaries will undermine the economic recovery and put the future prosperity of every Maldivian at risk.
The Maldives government is fully committed to work consistently with the fiscal framework envisaged in the IMF- supported program.
Following the IMF statement, President Nasheed urged “all parties to work together to ensure that decisions are made with the best interests of the economy and the Maldivian people in mind.”
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Education and province offices sign management contracts
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Ministry of Education and seven province offices have signed the management contracts to transfer some functions of the ministry to the province offices.
As part of the government’s decentralization policy, the cabinet decided, on 12 January 2010, to transfer some functions of line ministries to province offices, under a management contract between ministries and seven province offices.
At a ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon, Minister of Education Dr Musthafa Luthfy signed the contract on behalf of the Ministry, while State Ministers appointed to provinces signed on behalf of their respective provinces. Deputy Undersecretary of the President’s Office Mr. Hussain Adam who is in charge of North Province signed on behalf of the North Province.
Speaking at today’s ceremony, President Mohamed Nasheed said the aim of the government was to transfer the functions of all line ministries to province offices to enable the delivery of services directly to the people, under a management contract.
In his remarks, the President said a Decentralization Act was needed to establish a solid legal framework to run the administrative regions. He said what the government was doing today was creating a sound administrative structure to deliver services closer to the people.
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Government to subsidize electricity bills of 14250 electric meters in Male’
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Government has decided to subsidize electricity bills of 14250 electric meters in Male’. There are a total of 18905 electric meters in Male’.
Under the current framework for giving subsidies, the increment in electricity bills due the recent increase in electricity charges will be paid by the government for a total of 14250 electric meters in Male’.
In addition, 60 percent of the increment in electricity bills of 3908 meters will be paid by the National Social Protection Agency.
In order to find a permanent solution for the historically higher electricity bills, the government has begun major renewable energy projects in different areas of the Maldives.
Government has corporatized the State Electric Company and appointed an independent Board of Directors. As a result, the company had increased the electricity fees to cover the cost of production.
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Indians should know the local language – High Commissioner
Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Indian High Commissioner in the Maldives has said that it is vital for the Indians to learn Dhivehi language.
Speaking at a function held to mark the Indian republic day, High Commissioner said that Indians should learn Dhivehi language as well, just like any other international languages which they learn.
He also said that as many Maldivians are living in India and many Indians are living in the Maldives and as Minicoy, Indian island just off the coast of Maldives speaks Dhivehi language, Indians should learn it.
High Commissioner also highlighted the role of the society to fight against poverty.
High Commissioner also said that despite India being one of the largest countries, abundance of natural resources and the presence of many rich individuals in the country, India’s development and progress is hindered by the abject poverty in the country.
High Commissioner also said “people make it a superpower. All should work to make it a superpower. All individuals should assist as per their abilities and resources, at least assist one particular individual. That’s the only way to remain as a superpower”.
He also said that serving for the society shall be a responsibility of all and that could either be done by creating an NGO or by joining an already established one.
The function to mark the 60th republic day was introduced by Second Secretary Mr. Kirtik. Indian flag was hoisted and the message by Indian Prime Minister was read out by High Commissioner. The function was concluded by a national song.
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Agreement on 500 new housing units would be signed next month – Minister
Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Minister of Housing, Transport and Environment has said that agreement on the construction of 500 new housing units would be signed next month, in a press conference held yesterday.
Minister also said that government and the Indian contractor had come to an agreement on main areas.
Minister Aslam also said that many parties are expressing interest to construct 10,000 housing units within the Maldives and apologized for the delay in the project.
He also said that he wish to move forward on the project steadily, but transparently.
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