Maldives this week: 26 December 2021- 1 January 2022
Last week's key headlines.
On 1 January, homestay tourism was launched in M. Dhiggaru island, with four tourists and the UN Resident Representative in the Maldives Catherine Haswell, visiting the island.
On 1 January, religious NGO Jamiyyathu Salaf called on the government to halt introduction of homestay tourism, citing impact on culture and religious identify of future generations.
On 30 December, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih departed for Sri Lanka on an unofficial visit.
On 30 December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi is scheduled to visit the Maldives on 7 January 2022. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid is also scheduled to be in the Maldives to welcome Yi.
On 30 December, the Maldives Islamic Bank dismissed its Managing Director and CEO Abdul Ehtesham Abdul Muhaimin following an audit and review that showed he was not 'for and proper' as per the applicable laws and regulations.
On 30 December, the Ministry of Tourism issued an amendment to the regulation on operating guesthouses in the Maldives, to cover homestay tourism.
On 29 December, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree banning the import, product and use f 13 types of single-use plastics, to be effective on nine from 1 June 2022, two from September 2022 and three types from March 2023.
On 29 December, the government signed contracts for the development of water and sanitation projects in 23 islands. It said that with these projects, all inhabited islands in the Maldives will now have water and sanitation completed.
On 29 December, the Civil Service Commission announced that a minimum wage allowance will be paid to civils servants from January 2022 to implement the minimum wage policy.
On 28 December, Island Aviation Service (IAS) and the Maldives National University (MNU) inaugurated the Aviation Academy, to be managed by the Flying Academy of the Czech Republic.
On 28 December, Transparency Maldives (TM), the local chapter of Transparency International, raised its concerns over the investigation and action against members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) by the parliament.
On 27 December, the Maldives achieved its tourist arrival target of 1.3 million for 2021. The government has announced a 2 million arrivals target for 2022.
On 27 December, the President of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Aminath Shiuna and Members Fathimath Anoola and Aminath Abdulla resigned, amidst a decision by the parliament committee on independent institutions to remove them.
On 26 December, the parliament committee on independent institutions decided on a resolution to remove the members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The members had responded to the allegations against them claiming that there had been delays in the investigations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of staff and budget. They also said that most of the cases included in the audit report had been submitted to the Commission prior to their term in office.
On 26 December, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced additional measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, which include requiring all passengers arriving in the Maldives to have a PCR negative test done within 96 hours prior to arrival, requiring all Maldivians and work permit holders arriving to undergo a PCR test within three to five days of arrival and a 14-day quarantine requirement for those who have not completed their COVID-19 vaccine doses.
On 26 December, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said that it is now estimated 1.3 million tourists will visit the Maldives in 2021.
