Maldives this week: 5 – 11 August 2021
Updates on investigation into attack targeting Speaker Nasheed, US donates vaccines, President announces plans to increase teacher salaries, and success on the bid to host the SAFF championship.
On 11 August, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, at a press conference, said that it will not be the best way forward for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives and People's National Congress to form a coalition. He said that it would be best for the parties to work on opposing ends.
On 11 August, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that the government was in talks with foreign parties to run Maldivian, the national airline, as a joint venture.
On 11 August, the Maldivian Supreme Court sentenced former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed to 2 months and 12 days in prison for contempt of court. Ali Waheed had failed to attend the court hearing on the appeal by the Prosecutor General's Office against holding the hearings on his case online.
On 10 August, Abbas Faiz, President Solih's special envoy for the investigation into the 6 May attack against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, said that the first phase of the investigation is complete, and that next would be focus on how the attack was funded.
On 10 August, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced plans to increase the salaries of teachers. He also announced a decision to give an additional allowance to teachers who agreed to work in the islands.
On 9 August, 128,700 Pfizer vaccines donated by the United States through the COVAX facility were delivered to the Maldives. The government has said that this will be used to initiate vaccinations for children aged 12 to 18 years.
On 9 August, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer said that the Maldives will be drawing down USD40 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to manage government expenditure.
On 9 August, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof said that the investigation into allegations of him being involved in the MMPRC corruption was politically motivated, and that he will not resign from his post even if he was charged. He had earlier said that he would if he was charged.
The Football Federation of Maldives has won the bid to host the SAFF championships in the Maldives, to be held from 1 to 13 October.
On 8 August, the Ambassadors of Germany, Mexico and Rwanda presented their letters of credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Malaysian company WZR has filed a case against the Housing Development Corporation for failure to make a payment of USD22.8 million dollars as ordered at arbitration.
On 5 August, the government made several announcements on government measures to encourage vaccinations, to be effective from 1 September. These include:
- easing of travel restrictions, stating that if 9- percent of the population in an island eligible for COVID-19 vaccines have obtained the vaccine, visitors to the island from islands where the positivity rate is below 5 percent, do not have to have a negative PCR test to travel.
- who have not obtained their vaccines will have to pay for their COVID-19 release PCR test.
- Allowing for hotels, cafes, restaurants, gymnasiums, cinemas, salons, public transport, domestic flights and offices to impose certain conditions on those who have not obtained a vaccine in availing their services.
- Allowing only those who have completed their vaccinations into schools.
On 5 August, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer departed for the UAE on an official visit, where he is scheduled to meet with development partners, banks and investors.
