Cross-subsidy policy, thalassemia protest and petrol prices
News in brief from Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22.
23 Mar, 9:41 AM
A presidential decree was issued to set minimum financing commitments under a revised cross-subsidy policy that offers islands or lagoons for tourism development in exchange for investment in key infrastructure projects, including US$ 32 million for airport projects in 18 locations, US$ 20 million for four inter-island causeways, and US$ 25 million for social housing initiatives and land reclamation near Malé. The government is also seeking US$ 55 milllion to develop a juvenile rehabilitation centre and a central prison complex on 45 hectares to be reclaimed from the Uthuru Thilafalhu lagoon. In addition to a “high performance centre” that requires US$ 20 million, a US$ 15 million threshold was set for a vague national security project.
After a meeting with health officials failed to address concerns, thalassemia patients and their parents protested outside Malé’s Thalassemia Centre over the unavailability of blood and medicine for three months. The protesters blamed negligence by the Maldives Blood Service management after a large amount of blood packets had to be discarded due to damaged filters.
STO reduced petrol shed prices to MVR 13.50 (US$ 0.9) per litre, down MVR 0.48 from the previous rate.
Seven Indians and three Indonesians were arrested after 7kg of drugs were seized from a vessel near Malé.
The Baa Atoll Council partnered with Freedive Maldives to attempt a world record with 1,000 people diving simultaneously as a World Tourism Day event at Anga Faru on October 3.
Football coach Ihusan Abdul Ghanee (Saathi) passed away at Tree Top Hospital on Saturday night after a two-year battle with cancer. Saathi served as assistant coach for the 2008 SAFF championship winners and coached Club Eagles for many years.
Former attorney general Dr Ali Sawad called on the Chief Justice to defend suspended Supreme Court justices from a government "witch hunt" through the judicial watchdog.