Maldives this week: 17 - 23 October 2021

On 23 October, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the government decision to implement housing projects across the country under a MVR1.2 billion budget over the next two years. 

On 23 October, the Maldivian government presented Youth Awards to 10 individuals. The ceremony was held in HDh. Khulhudhuffushi, where President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih presented the awards. 

On 23 October, the Health Protection Agency reported 225 new COVID-19 cases in the country, from 4,527 samples tested over the previous 24 hours. The majority of cases were from the K. Guraidhoo Home for Persons With Special Needs, where 112 cases have been reported over the past week, with 86 reported on 23 October. The Home has now been placed under lockdown. 

On 23 October, Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrooz Azeez said that the government was studying a report issued by the Auditor General's Office on the rent determined for the lease of the 7,000 units under the Hiyaa Project. Azeez said that after analysis, action will be taken in cases where it was warranted. 

On 22 October, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih returned to capital Malé after concluding his official visit to Alifu Alifu Atoll. 

On 22 October, opposition Progressive Congress coalition held a walk in Malé calling to oust Indian soldiers who are allegedly stationed in the Maldives. 

On 22 October, former Home Minister Umar Naseer announced that he will be contesting in the 2023 presidential election as an independent candidate. 

On 22 October, the Auditor General's Office advised that a financial feasibility to be carried out for housing projects implemented under loan funding in the future and to base decisions on this feasibility. After considering various claims made by the Yameen administration, the Malé City Council and the Housing Development Corporation on the cost estimates for the Hiyaa scheme, the Auditor General's Office advised that the HDC estimates for the 7,000 housing units was correct. The HDC estimates indicate the cost per housing unit to be MVR1,163,289. 

On 21 October, the Maldivian and Indian Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on implementing eight high-impact community projects in the Maldives under a MVR70 million grant from India. The project includes procuring sea ambulances for use by the Maldives National Defence Force. 

On 21 October, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced that wages in January 2022 will have a minimum wage incorporated. He also announced that the salaries of doctors and teachers will be increased in 2022 and that allocations for this will be included in the budget for 2022. 

On 20 October, the Parliament approved a MVR90 million budget for the Auditor General's Office. It also passed a proposal to conduct a performance audit of the civil service in 2022. 

On 20 October, the Prosecutor General's Office charged two additional suspects in the attack against Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. 

On 20 October, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed said that the government had only submitted four of the 32 bills it announced it will submit to the current sitting of parliament. The current sitting was convened on 16 August. 

On 20 October, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih left on a two-day visit to six islands in Alifu Alifu Atoll – Thoddhoo, Rasdhoo, Ukulhas, Mathiveru, Bodufolhudhoo and Himandhoo. 

On 19 October, the Transport Authority issued an announcement mandating life jackets on all sea vessels as well as a number of other requirements. It provided three months for compliance, to expire on 16 January, after which those vessels not compliant will have their sea worthiness licenses cancelled. 

On 19 October, US Ambassador to the Maldives Alaina Teplitz paid a farewell call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

On 19 October, the Prosecutor General's Office announced its decision not to appeal the release of two arrested in relation to 100 kilograms of narcotics seized by the police in an operation. 

On 19 October, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said that the government will cancel agreements on islands leased for tourism development if the resort is not operational within three years of lease. 

On 19 October, the President's Office announced that the Maldives Police Service, or 'Dhivehi Fuluhunge Kidhumaiy' will continue to be under the purview of the Minister of Home Affairs. 

On 18 October, Member of Parliament for Villimalé Ahmed Usham responded to Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer's statement that the cancellation of the Velana International Airport contract awarded to India's GMR had been the biggest obstacle to economic development made by a recent government. Usham said that if GMR had been allowed to build a terminal as it had proposed, the opportunity to build a second runway would have been foregone.  

On 18 August, the Prosecutor General's Office said that it has not yet made a decision on appealing a Criminal Court ruling releasing two alleged to be the leaders in smuggling more than 100 kilograms of narcotics into the country. The MPS had arrested eight Maldivians and two foreigners in an operation it started on 13 October. The Criminal Court had released the two at their remand hearing. 

On 17 October, the Office of the Ombudsman for Transitional Justice announced that it has decided to investigate 449 of the 487 cases filed with the Office.

On 17 October, Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali appealed to top students to elect teaching as a profession. 

On 11 October, the World Bank, in its report on International Debt Statistics, said that Foreign Direct Investment inflows into the Maldives had declined by 63 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. The Maldives recorded USD348 million in FDI in 2020, compared to USD986 million in 2019. It also noted that China is the largest bilateral creditor to the Maldives. 

On 16 October, Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan arrived in the Maldives on an official visit. Discussions held during the visit covered COVID-19 and global economic recovery, trade and investment links and collaboration on tourism. 

On 16 October, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said that the cancellation of the GMR airport contract had been the biggest obstacle to economic growth in the Maldives to date. He said that the government had had to pay USD270 million in compensation, and that the airport not being developed had posed major obstacles to tourism growth. 

On 16 October, the Managing Director of WAMCO Adam Mohamed alleged that it was the Malé City Council that has not complied with the agreement made with WAMCO. Malé Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has alleged that WAMCO has not cleaned the streets of Malé in accordance with an agreement made with the Council and threatened to cancel the agreement.