Parliament passes new airport departure tax, committee passes amendments giving President tax exemption powers, Speaker of Parliament says will push for referendum on introducing parliamentary system.
MFR Graphic
On 7 February, the government announced that guesthouses on inhabited islands will be allowed to host South Asian tourists from 30 July. The government also announced a host of other eases in restrictions.
On 7 July, Spokesperson at the President's Office Mabrook Azeez confirmed that the Maldives has received 60,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine from a well-wisher who wished to remain anonymous.
The government has submitted amendments to laws to allow for the implementation of changes brought to the Decentalisation Act, devolving additional powers to local councils. An amendment proposed to the Public Finance Act seeks to allow councils to avail debt for projects implemented in their jurisdiction.
On 5 July, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, on the third 'Ask Speaker' program, said that he was seeking to be the candidate if there was a presidential election in 2023. He also said that he will work with former President Abdulla Yameen to run a referendum in 2022 on introducing a parliamentary system of governance in the Maldives.
On 5 May, the Maldivian parliament passed a bill to introduce departure tax instead of the current airport tax. The new tax is scheduled to be introduced from 1 January 2022.
On July 5, a whole-of-parliament committee approved amendments proposed to the Income Tax Act, giving power to the president to provide exemptions.
On 4 July, parliament's public finance committee approved the appointment of Hussein Niyazi to the post of Auditor General.
On 4 July, the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) announced receipt of additional doses of the Covishield vaccine, donated by a well-wisher.
The Indian High Commission in the Maldives raises issue with Maldivian media publishing articles that attacked the 'dignity' of the high commission and its officials. It requests for action to be taken under Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. On 1 July, the chair of the parliament foreign relations committee, MP Ibrahim Shareef says police investigating the threats. Chair of the parliament committee on independent institutions also requested the Maldives Media Council to investigate the issue. On 4 July, the Maldives Editor's Guild raises concerns over the Indian High Commission directly asking the parliament committee to investigate the issue instead of using established diplomatic routes through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 5 July, the Criminal Court orders a seven-day remand for a suspect arrested on allegations of threatening to bomb the Indian High Commission. Security services increase security around the High Commission and the Chinese Embassy.
On 1 July, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said the purpose of the tax exemption powers granted to the President under the amendments to the Income Tax Act is to encourage large investment projects that will be beneficial for the public.
