MDP congress, fatal accidents and development loans

Following a proposed merger with the Democrats, the opposition MDP’s national council decided to hold an extraordinary congress before August 15. The move comes amid intensifying competition for the party’s 2028 presidential ticket. Chairman Fayyaz Ismail is reportedly hoping to win the primary with the support of former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is expected to return with loyalists from the breakaway faction, and former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is seeking a leadership post to strengthen his bid. 

Two fatal accidents occurred in Laamu atoll and Addu City. A 30-year-old man died on Saturday morning while undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in a dangerous accident on the Laamu atoll link. A 36-year-old man who suffered injuries following a collision between a car and a motorbike on the Addu link road passed away on Saturday night.

The government must take loans for development projects because revenue is insufficient to cover wages and recurrent expenditure, the infrastructure minister said at the inauguration of a harbour development project in Gaaf Dhaal Fiyoaree. The ministry has awarded projects worth MVR 40 billion (US$ 2.5 billion), he said, appealing for public understanding of financial constraints and difficulties in borrowing from domestic and foreign sources.

Some Maldivian families repatriated from Syrian refugee camps have been released following the completion of their rehabilitation programme at the National Reintegration Centre, Adhadhu reported. 

The tax authority collected MVR 3.38 billion in March, up 15 percent from the same period last year as extended payment deadlines fell during the month. One-time payments of resort lease period extension fees also contributed to the increment.  

A Maldivian pilot student in the Philippines was injured after hitting the propeller of his training aircraft. According to media reports, the male student got off the plane while the propeller was on because he was feeling nauseous. He then fainted and fell in towards the propeller, sustaining serious injuries to his face and hands.

The police advised the public to be wary of scam text messages and emails claiming to be from Temu after the Chinese e-commerce platform launched services in the Maldives this month.

The Velana International Airport marked its 59th anniversary with a flag hoisting ceremony and unity walk.

The foreign minister “shared insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region and addressed key global issues like climate change” during the Anatalya Diplomacy Forum hosted by Türkiye.

President Muizzu inaugurated the Islamic University’s “Sanabil” project aimed at securing a “sustainable source of income” from a building to be developed with auditoriums, meeting rooms, a food court, and commercial and office spaces.

The government purchased a 10,000 square feet plot of land in Hulhumalé for MVR 31.5 million to build a “safe home” for victims of domestic violence. 

Addu City’s Equator Village is seeking US$ 25 million as compensation for the relocation of the hotel’s staff quarters for the construction of a road as part of the Gan airport expansion project, Mihaaru reported, as the airport company prepares to file a lawsuit. If a settlement is not reached by April 17, the road component will have to be removed from the project in order to avoid paying compensation to the Indian airport developer, the construction minister said last week.