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Megachip, the blessed computer shop in Maldives has been one of the bloodlines of MDP during the run-up to the elections. Megachip, though a Maumoon loyal company, switch sides when it was sure Maumoon was going to fail. Major chunks of their funds was initially pumped to promote DRP and, not to keep the opposition too far away, MDP was handed out with just a minor portion of the allocated funds to ensure that deals came flowing whoever wins the presidential elections. Megachip took these as ‘Marketing’ expenses to ensure that their game of getting majority of government deals did not stop at the fall of government.
So after the elections, other computers shops saw Megachip winning lucrative deals from government organizations and companies where most MDP loyalists are the decision makers. Including STO where the Managing Director in cousin of Megachip family.
Megachip has won many deals where eyes brows have been raised and fingers pointed at them and various decision makers in those organizations. One of these deals is the controversial NEXBIS immigration border control deal.
Megachip was awarded the contract from NEXBIS to supply huge numbers of servers and computer systems months before NEXBIS was awarded the contract by Immigration Department. Since the deal was later put on hold by ACC, Megachip made a massive loss on this project.
The current government knows that in order to win 2013 they need funds. Loads and loads of cash to compete with their former allies and the opposition. Like the deal that was offered to Heavy Load, Megachip has been promised a deal.
Government has put forward a tender to purchase all the computer systems required for the government of Maldives and will be awarded to one single party for the entire year. Government has also plans to extend this contract to 3 years ensuring that Megachip wins and the blood supply of Presidential campaign can go on.
Megachip, with Parliamentarians, Government MD’s and Board Members, has set new heights in corruption and bribery that is done during day light and in front of masses.
For the past two years the Sydney technology company Nexbis has touted lucrative Asian government security contracts as the source of huge future long-term profits. Yet all may not be what it seems with the counterparty to the company's most lucrative contract.
Nexbis' market capitalisation hovers around $100 million, with more than $30 million of fresh capital raised last year from institutional investors, including QIC and Kinetic, on the promise of the 80 per cent margins on offer from sales of Nexbis' National Security Suite of secure identity document products.
But after starting this year with three big projects that one analyst thought might generate $100 million of profits next year, Nexbis is yet to deliver on its claimed potential.
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In recent months the company has had two big setbacks. First, a project to provide drivers' licences in Vietnam, which Nexbis had announced as being at memorandum-of-understanding stage, has been put out to tender by Vietnamese authorities. This puts paid to Nexbis' hopes of securing the contract by its preferred method of direct negotiation.
In discussions with investors, Nexbis representatives play up their ability to leverage a network of "high-level government connections" to win big contracts across Asia.
A deal with the Department of Immigration in Malaysia last year was secured this way. The company predicted the contract, when running at full steam, would generate annual revenue of $60 million to $80 million.
It was not to be. In the second recent setback for the company a Malaysian Government reshuffle and budgetary belt-tightening led Nexbis to announce last month a "temporary halt" to supply its identification cards under the Malaysian contract "pending receipt of assurances of payment from the Government".
Even before this, questions were being asked about the Malaysian deal. Analysts had been expecting Malaysian revenue of about $25 million to June 30, and were shocked to read in the Nexbis accounts that it was only $3.3 million.
With Malaysia on ice indefinitely and Vietnam out to tender, investor attention at Nexbis' AGM later this month will no doubt centre on the company's third big contract. The deal relates to supplying customer identity cards to track purchases and refills of gas bottles under the Chinese national gas tank project. Nexbis has provided no hint that that contract, announced last November, is off track. Printing of identity cards reportedly began in April, and Nexbis booked sales revenue of $43.7 million from the contract in the June half.
So far so good, but the China cash has been slow to come in. At year end Nexbis' balance sheet showed trade receivables of $42 million, compared with $3 million the previous year. The bulk of the receivables related to the China contract. It was not until this week that the first payment against the receivables balance was confirmed, $10 million having been received.
Managing director Johann Young had sought to allay concerns over the receivables by pointing to the quality of the company's debtors. From the start, Nexbis identified the China deal as being a technology licence agreement with the "Chinese Government".
More recently when discussing this year's financial results Young was quoted as saying: ''How many companies can report a substantial growth in cash and profits, backed by safe government debtors?''
Unfortunately for investors, it not be this simple. The fine print of the Nexbis accounts suggests that the counter-party to the China deal is the Hong Kong-registered China Inspection True Product Technology Ltd (CITP), a fact Nexbis confirmed this week. To refer to CITP as an arm of the Chinese Government is perhaps something of a stretch.
According to US Securities and Exchange filings, CITP is just 12 per cent owned by a Chinese government agency involved in the claimed gas tank project. Its majority 70 per cent shareholder is the technology tiddler True Product ID of Pennsylvania.
TPID has for years pinned its hopes on providing security identification technologies to Chinese industry. Indeed, it was making claims regarding its involvement in the Chinese national gas tank project a full year before Nexbis arrived at the party.
It seems TPID's technologies are set to provide identification tags for the 130-million or so gas bottles in use in China.
This is not TPID's only Chinese contract win. Backed by the 96 per cent shareholder James Mackay, a Scottish-born businessman with a colourful track record in the internet porn and technology industries, TPID has followed in the footsteps of many Mackay companies in promising much but delivering little. At one point TPID said a contract with the China Painting and Calligraphy Organisation "had the possibility for greater potential revenues than the company's projected $1.3 billion gas tank contract with the Chinese government".
TPID has a market capitalisation of less than $1 million and is yet to report a single dollar of revenue from any source. Accounts for the nine months to March raise doubts regarding the company's going concern status.
Nexbis said this week it had received assurances from CITP that it had no connection with TPID. But curiously Nexbis also says it has no knowledge of CITP's ownership structure, raising questions as to how the company felt comfortable in saying the gas tank contract was with the "Chinese Government".
Nevertheless, if TPID's relationship with CITP is correctly recorded in SEC filings, the Nexbis team is to be commended on receiving even a $10 million payment in relation to the Chinese contract.
The quality of the Chinese contract lies at the heart of Nexbis' value and management credibility. Until the ownership of CITP is made clear, it is hard to give credence to management claims over the long-term value of this contract.
Just few weeks ago I received a call from a relatively new company who calls them selves "ZEBRA CROSS'. They asked for an appointment and as we always encourage new businesses, we gave them an appointment.
They cam in right on time for the appointment, They were well informed about their product and the ideas were brilliant. Thee product that they were trying to market was 3 versions of Yellow Pages. A print version, online version and a mobile application.
There marketing materials were designed with care and a lot of professionalism expect for a large number of typo errors. They had three separate brochures for their 3 products and on one of them, the print version of the yellow pages and on pages 2 and 3 I noticed something unusual.
Well, the company is owned by Mr. Mohamed Luveiz, Mr. Abdulla Ziyath and Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Didi.
The Profile says that Mr. Mohamed Luveiz and Mr. Abdulla Ziyath both hold positions at Invest maldives where Mr. Luveiz is the Head and Mr. Ziyath is the Assitant Director.
Strangely, Zebra Cross pvt. Ltd, owned by these two gentleman has been awarded numerous contracts by Invest Maldives. Including: Authentic Maldives branding campaign, IPA strategy, Marketing plan, copywriting and even the website www.investmaldives.org website.
This profile is enough proof that they abused their positions and they are constantly doing that by by using this profile to market their private business.
We have received confirmed news that STO board members were back dating board resolutions to avoid charges against corruption. ACC has moved in couple months ago and when asked for board resolutions they have in fact back dated these resolutions with instructions from both Shahid and Soarey.
If ACC is doing their job properly ACC needs to investigate these resolutions and hold the board members who are responsible accountable. Back dating resolutions should be considered as fraud and due process needs to be followed and justice served.
These are serious issues and corruption needs to be wiped out from this country once and for all.
Its been only 18 months since we all fought for democracy. After 30 years of oppression we finally were able to win back our freedom. But it gives me shivers to look into the future and think seriously of what our nation might become I come to one conclusion.
Adaalath. A Political party promoting nothing but Islam. Their Manifesto is Islam. So if our constitution says only Islam can be practiced in Maldives, the only party who can survive in the this, in the not so distant future, will be Adaalath Party. Anyone who defects from Adaalath could face the death penalty.
2013 will come. Those who love freedom should find ways and means to flee this country. Gather all you can. This is Afghanistan in the making and with the blessings from the very person who fought for our freedom. ANNI....
We have received information from trusted sources that there is going to be more votes of no confidence in the parliament. To ensure that these pass through several under the table deals is being done. Recently we came across the Education Ministry buddies Ahmed Zareer (who holds various high ranking posts in this Governement) and Abdullah Salih (who used to be Ahmed Zareer's boss at Min of Education during the time of Golhaa) taking calls and meeting up.
Abdualla Salih who is part of DQP is negotiating with Ahmed Zareer and Ilyas Labeeb to ensure that votes of no confidence passes through. Ilyas Labeeb seems to be a major key in getting Adduans together. We have information that the price Ahmed Zareer and Ilyas Labeeb is asking for is close to a million dollars for this switch from MDP to DQP. They have planned this as a surprise.
More parliamentarians are in talks with several other parties including Seafood Musthafa, who is negotiating with DRP, Colonel Mohamed Nasheed who is in direct talks with Golhaa himself, Bonda ibrey, Kubey and last minute switch over of some crook parliamentarians. Alhan Fahmy's role when his switched sides was to disperse MDP members to various different parties.
Opposition is uniting to bring an end to the rule of MDP. God bless this country. Maldivians should take this as a lesson, "Do not just vote for the person your party puts in front. Evaluate the person before you vote".
SEPANG, May 3 — The hospitality arm of the Tune Group, which controls budget carrier AirAsia, has been offered six islands in the luxury resort destination of Maldives where it can operate, said AirAsia CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.
AirAsia plans to start flying to the Maldives some time in the next six months.
Tune Hotels recently also announced plans to expand abroad, in Southeast Asia and Britain.
“AirAsia was invited to come and Tune Hotels was given six islands to build,” said Fernandes in a media briefing today.
A spokesman for AirAsia told The Malaysian Insider however that Tune Hotels has not decided yet if it will take up the offer.
Tune Hotels, a budget hotel chain, recently signed a RM746 million deal with London based Queensway Group to build 15 hotels in Britain.
This is exactly what I feel when a PC reseller in Maldives wins awards almost 3 consecutive years for quality. There are so many, more qualified PC distributors and resellers across the globe. Like IngramMicro or CDW or TechData. But why on earth would a plaque be awarded to a firm in Maldives for selling PCs. If it was beaches, luxury travel or fishing I can understand.
So, about a year back I did some google searching for the credibility of this so called “BID” award for Quality and Blah Blah…. And here is what I found.
1.Look up google for “business initiative directions” (that is what B.I.D stands for) and you find all sorts of web addresses under different domains listing the so called BID awards.To name a few
Don’t you find it a little awkward that all these magazines publish only news feeds form other sources. They do not have any genuine content whatsoever. Ah… except for BID award news just to amuse you.. And all these magazines is owned by Imapress. And to deceive people they have huge pictures of World leaders on the covers of these magazines that are printed only once a year. you get my point right?....
The website of Main Sponsor is worse. Look at that website, nothing but hyperlinks.
3.Ok… now the people who pay huge sums of money, travel to Geneva and Paris and fetch these awards.
Do you guys know any company by the name Jorio Coca Cola Corse. You get the idea rigt? And if you look up google for the “Jorio Coca Cola Corse” you will only find this company only on the websites that I have highlighted at the top. Maybe the real name of Coca Cola Company is Jorio Coca Cola Corse. I don’t know! but these guys received the award.
The second type of deceit is when they use a small branch of a huge company and award them. Here is one.
But that is Indian Oil (Mauritius) and they don’t make a big fuss out of it. They have not even mentioned about this particular award on their website.
I wrote to Megachip about a year ago explaining all what I have found out above but they never bothered. Go see the awards at Megachip showroom, Majeedi Magu
Cheers to all....
And Now another Maldivian falls victim. visit link
It seems that the current government is pretty keen on getting down the number of expats working in Maldives. They seem to making life difficult for each and every Maldivian in bringing expats for employment. One thing I have come across is that when the Government is so keen on getting the number down the government should at least try and get their head expat count down.
We have a pretty huge reserve force at MNDF who the people are paying huge amounts of money for their pay, family medicals, accommodation, food and other incentive. This reserve force can be utilized for community service like keeping our infrastructure up and running. For example; how about sending all laborers at Male’ Municipality and hand over that work to MNDF. I believe there will be hundreds and hundreds of laborers employed at Municipality.
The same goes with other government bodies. Instead of paying thousands of people who basically stay home give them some work to do. At least they would earn some after some sweat.
The recent appointment of Megachip as a Dell partner in Maldives is in many ways a very good initiative of the World's second largest computer manufacturer.
Megachip, a very capable company in the areas of retail and government tenders would be a huge boost to Dell's business in Maldives.
However, Megachip is not the only Dell Authorized distributor in Maldives. I did a little research into the legitimacy of Megachip's claims to be a partner and I have found out that there is a another partner is Maldives.
The question that came to my mind was, if there is another Dell distributor in Maldives why on earth aren't we hearing about them. So with the help Dell's corporate website I was able to search their contact by just typing 'Dell Maldives Partner' on google.
A company named Azimuth Pvt Ltd. So I gave them a call. The answer I got from them was:
"As Dell's business model is to concentrate on Corporate and Government requirements and not to do retail consumer business AND as our business model is very much inline with Dell's model where we concentrate on solution design and implementation we do not want to concentrate on consumer". I followed by asking why they did not want to have an out let at least. "We do not want to do retail as I said earlier, But we are in the process of opening a demonstration showroom. It is not going to be entirely Dell but as we are Partners for Oracle, microsoft and Juniper, we would be doing solutions presentations there. Ofcourse all this will be based on Dell hardware".
I asked if Azimuth is also an Dell Authorized Service Provider. "As to our knowledge Dell has not accredited any partners in Maldives to be an Authorized Service Provider or DASP as in Dell's terms". So I asked why Megachip has the "DASP" sign inside their service Center. "Megachip will be in a better position to validate that for you".
So I did try to validate this but with little luck. But I found the "DASP" policy online. Looks like Megachip has bit of a long way to go achieve the "DASP".
When you think of corruption the first person to come to our minds is Yaamin... When we all believe and know that Yamin has a hierarchy of loyalists who facilitates his inflow into his wealth. These corruption and whitewash machines have been in motion for the past 20 odd years and has built an empire for Yaamin along the way and pocketing some for them selves.
It was this governments first mistake not get rid of them in the first place when they had the chance. After just a year in power we are seeing these Yaamin's machines disguise themselves as MDP loyals and do havoc to places. A classic example is STO Shareef....
Like a plaque Shareef has spread the virus of corruption into the new management of STO. From a simple deal to million dollar deals, the new management of STO and relatives of this management are pocketing huge amounts of money under the watch of Finance Ministry including the ever strong State Minister Assad, the Minister Ali Hashim and even fooling Anni into thinking that who they have appointed are indeed working for the betterment of the people.
Tomorrow we will see light to the news of Megachip (The most corrupt Computer seller during Golhaa's regime who embezzled millions using corrupt tactics mostly at Education Ministry) practicing the same tactics during the current yellow revolution.
In the coming days you will hear about more corruption inside STO partnered by Soarey, Shad (Relative of Megachip family), Shareef and even Sana Mansoor.
I have begun to believe that this is "Wathan Edhey Goiy"....
New Government, New heads of Companies and new wave of corruption. I think this is what we should expect just after one year in power by the current Government.
Yes, corruption is rife, it is happening. New Managing Director twisting and turning documents to favor their cousin brothers. Yes, tenders are re-tendered until cousin brothers come up with the right figure. And they just did. The tender has been submitted today and we will all see it getting awarded to the cousin brothers.
In the coming days you will be hearing more on the MD and the cousin bother’s episodes to exactly how they did it. In the meantime let us all join hands and sing along….
Esss Teee Oohh – Dhen Vee Hiyaanaaiy… Esss Teee Oohhh – Dhen Vee Hiyaanaaiy…
After more than four long years of struggle to bring about democracy and rule of law to this nation , the people who sacrificed their time, energy and money celebrated the fruits of their labour on 11th on November 2008. A struggle that was painstaking and tiresome. A struggle that witnessed the torture of many and the true force of people power.
Today we mark the 1st Anniversary of the first democratically elected Government in the history of Maldives. 365 days of rebuilding the nation. 365 days of rehabilitation. 365 days of hope and 365 days of democracy machine put to action.
During these 365 days we have witnessed the formation of several public/private and public companies to deliver on the promises of our struggle. We have seen major projects rolled out and we have appointed new heads to almost all government and public companies.
But, after 30 years of the plaque of corruption, are we sure that we will not see a new strand of the plaque once again. We are witnessing a trend emerging and if the current institutions do not keep a closer eye on the events unfolding before their eyes, we might as well sink into a deeper corruption hole than the previous regime. The trend that we are seeing today includes.
- Owners of major businesses are appointed as Chairman's, CEO's and Board Directors. - Mega projects being controlled by proxy companies
- Associations and NGO's manipulating financial documents to obtain government funding
- Managing Directors favoring the businesses of their brothers and finding ways and means to disqualify others.
These are just few very basic symptoms of the plaque that we lived on almost all of our adult life. Unless we, as the people who went onto the streets try and stop this we will see the whole system falling into chaos once again.
So let us all join hands and voice every event and incident that can or will lead to corruption.
Wataniya Telecom, a Middle Eastern telecom giant came into Maldives in 2005. When the contract was awarded a lot of Maldivian small businesses rushed to them to find work. As finding work on most of the islands is pretty hard and work is scarce, all across Maldives contractors were busy erecting towers, digging and doing construction for Wataniya Telecom so they would not miss the deadline, which was pretty ridiculous, and escape Government fines.
We have recently come to know that Wataniya or the the main contractor Fastcomms owes these contractor millions of rufiyaa and this has been in the Courts of Maldives for the entire life of Wataniya operational in Maldives. So we investigated and this is what a contractor “Ahmed” who hasn’t been paid for over 3 years has to say.
“When we heard the news that Wataniya was awarded the contract to become the second mobile operator we felt very happy as we can raise funds for our youth clubs and other activities by working as subcontractors for Wataniya. When we first went to Wataniya we were shown the main contractor Fastcomms.So as instructed by Wataniya we worked for Fastcomms”.
Who is this Fastcomms. Fastcomms is a Maldivian firm who won the contract to supply and roll out Wataniya network.
“When we didn’t get paid for over six months we filed the case against Fastcomms. But later we found out that Wataniya did not pay Fastcomms so we started to work with Fastcomms to file the case against Wataniya.”
“This case has dragged too long. Maybe because Wataniya’s Lawyer Dheena Hussain is related to the former first Lady. That is what I think. . Even the son in law of Maumoon works with Dheena .”
“But now the court has ruled that Wataniya has to give the money to Fastcomms and we will get paid then. To date Wataniya has not paid Fastcomms, even after the court ruling. So we have obtained a copy of the verdict and we want this to go to all newspapers. People should know what kind of people Wataniya is”
“I wish in this country we can file for damages. Our families have suffered because of that. Our business went bankrupt. In other countries I can file for damages”.
“We have worked with Dhiraagu during their tower project and they always pay on time. Government should not let foreign companies destroy our lives.”
“So today we have decided that we will give this verdict copy to media and tell all Maldivians what kind of a company Wataniya is”.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Mohamed Mustafa’s victory in the re-vote in Thimarafushi spells the end of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s influence over the nation, speakers at a rally last night said.
At the by-election on Saturday, Mustafa beat the former president’s son, Mohamed Gassan Maumoon, by 50 votes.
Mustafa was sworn in this morning by Supreme Court Justice Abdullah Arif at parliament before today’s sitting.
Speaking at the rally, “Reeko” Moosa Manik, MDP parliamentary group leader, said some people had not realised the government had changed.
“Some people in the civil service and those close to Maumoon have not woken up yet, but you have done it for them very well,” he said.
The rally in Thimarafushi was attended by President Mohamed Nasheed as well as MDP MPs.
Earlier in the day, the MDP entourage was greeted by a rapturous crowd of islanders.
“All the ecstasy means a lot. It shows that we're still maintaining our grass roots support; that we've not really gone away from them,” said MP and MDP Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi.
Mariya said MDP had been effective in parliament with 25 MPs, but will be “even louder now”.
At the rally, she said Mustafa’s win was the “second golden seat” for the party, with the presidency being the first.
MDP parliamentary group leader Moosa Manik said more MPs would be joining the party now.
“I think I will be majority leader in parliament soon,” he said. “Three are willing to join. One has signed, but we haven't officially announced it yet.”
MP “Colonel” Mohamed Nasheed added at the rally that many MPs of the opposition parties were having discussions to join MDP.
Young MPs of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party-People’s Alliance coalition had been asked to resign to make way for Gassan, he said.
In his speech, Mustafa spoke of the development projects planned for the island, including an airport, a yacht marina and a city hotel.
"I have pledged to find ways for you to stay with your families and work in the island," he said.
Mustafa said Thimarafushi islanders had suffered injustices under the previous government, describing Gayoom as the “most brutal leader in the past hundred years”.
Ahead of the 1994 parliamentary elections, 46 people were arrested from Thimarafushi.
Dhiraagu, the largest telecom monopoly in Maldives, has successfully held its annul Broadband Road Race on Friday.
The event, organized by Dhiraagu in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Maldives (AAM), was held on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, starting off and ending at the Artificial Beach. Dhiraagu’s annual Broadband Race held under four categories, professionals, Amateur, under 40 years groups, Amateur, above 40 years group and team events. Some 600 competitors took part in the event held in a very festive atmosphere.
The top prize in team event category was won by Team Sifa from Maldives Defense Force. In Amateur, above 40 years, female group, Aminath Nasiha won the top prize and in male group the top prize went to Ahmed Munthaz Moosa. In the Amateur group, under 40 years, top prize among female group went to Nazeera Abdul Raheem and in male group of the same category; the top prize went to Nashid Ali.
Cash prizes were awarded to winners and runners up of all categories. Top prize under professional category was awarded Rf. 8,000 while the runner up received Rf.6, 000. Top prizes of the Amateur category, both above 40 years and under 40 years, were awarded rf.5, 000 and runner up in this category was awarded Rf.4, 000. Rf. 10,000 was presented to winners of the team event category.
Further participant and the oldest participant were also given prizes. Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race was first held in 2007, to raise awareness of the speed, quality and benefits of Dhiraagu’s ADSL broadband service. Following the success of the initial race, the Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race has become an event on its own, and this is the third successive year the race was held. The main objective of the race is to promote healthier and active lifestyles in the community, Dhiraagu has said.
As Dhiraagu keeps on gaining more avenues to monopolize the industry the people of Maldives is still waiting for the day when the technology will eventually come to the promised "Aiy Foaraa Fashah". We will not see this light until the government can have an independant body as Regulator OR the Government stops doing business and sell all its shares in Dhiraagu and open up the market for more competition.
It was only last month that we saw Dhiraagu being awarded the Government Network of Maldives (GNM). This comes as a huge blow to the IT community who were looking forward to having an alternative connectivity option that can be affordable "Aiy Foaraa Fashugai"
Religious conservative Adaalath party’s president appealed public not to buy shares from MTDC (Maldives Tourism Development Corporation) stating the company’s engagement in haram (prohibited in Islam) businesses such as sale of alcohol and pork as well as bank interest.
MTDC – the governments’ flagship public tourism company – started selling 688,123 shares on Monday, at a rate of US$ 13 per share, with a face value of US$8 and a premium value of US$5.
Speaking to Minivan News, Sheikh Hussein Rasheed Ahmed said there would not be any “excuse” when following Islam, saying the Maldives can also be promoted without alcohol and pork.
“Not only MTDC,” said the scholar, “All the resort investors are earning prohibited money.”
At present, MTDC owns and sub-leases nine resort islands, where 55 percent of the company shares are from public, and 45 percent are owned by the government.
Mohamed Mihad, MTDC managing director said Adaalath’s president’s remarks are politically motivated; adding he does not believe it is haram to buy shares from MTDC.
Adaalath is a party which promotes Islamic Sharia and principles.
Further, Mihad said the remarks of Sheikh Hussein would not affect their share market, adding the company decided to sell shares after the board of directors learned the allocated shares for the public is lower than 55 per cent.
“If the shares are sold at the existing speed,” he said, “we hope all the shares will be sold before the deadline.”
The deadline is on 18 August.
MTDC expects to raise over US$1 million from shares to develop a 100 bed resort in Alifu Alifu atoll Uligam.
Speaking about tourism without alcohol and pork, Sheikh Hussein said there are some countries, including Iran and some states of India, which have tourism without haram businesses.
Business Tycoon, Abdulla Jabir, who owns five resorts in the Maldives, said it was difficult to accept religious comments of Sheikh Hussein as sincere because he was a politician.
Jabir did not wish to comment on the whether the tourism industry can survive without alcohol and pork.
The issue of alcohol and pork surfaced after the minister of Islamic affairs Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari, who also belongs to Adaalath, said government revenue from import duties on alcohol and pork was haram.
During the debate last month on a bill proposed by the government to reduce and eliminate import duties, some MPs called for increasing import duties for alcohol and pork.
But, the economic affairs committee of parliament, which is currently reviewing the bill, decided against the increase yesterday.
Winners of the 11 new resorts tendered last year was announced today but the basic mood amongst the bidders is that of disappointment and utter waste of time and money. As anticipated they were awarded to the same parties which scored the highest points in the controversial markings done by Ismail Firag�s �Angels� belonging to the unknown American firm who completed the evaluation is world record time. Tourism Minister Dr Luthfee said that the islands would be finally awarded to parties after thoroughly checking whether one party or company gets more than one resort. However, Ismail Firag (who allegedly gets a 5% of Sunland Pvt Ltd�s profits and VIP treatment and free booze from all their resort) has ensured that Sunland got 3 resorts even this time. N. Maavelaavaru, Th. Kalhufahalafushi and Ga. Funamaudua have been awarded to Sunland. Some say they secured a 4th one through a made up company. This brings the number of resorts owned/operated by Sunland Pvt Ltd to 9 or 10 now. In 1997 Sunland was awarded 3 islands out of which they only managed to build only one and had to dispose off the other two for relatively small cash payments. This time, AAA Company also secured more than one resort in the names of their directors but the good thing is they can afford to build and develop and operate their own resorts and not sell them to tycoons. In Maldives, the economic wealth and power is in the hands of less than 3% of the population, which comprises of Gayyoom�s family, friends and close associates. This is believed to be another world record for Maldives. In a democratic society, income distribution has to be equitable, the cumulative share of income would be equal to the cumulative population share. As Adam Smith said, you can never achieve perfect distribution but it is important to work toward that. It is a fact that the lesser the income disparity, the healthier the economy and the more prosperous people are. For example, In America (USA) (which is by far the largest economy and the richest country in the world) more than 99.6% of the country�s wealth is controlled by more than 90% of the population which has ensured that they are by far the world�s most prosperous and richest nation in the world with nearly US$ 30,000 GDP per capita with a population of nearly 300 million. Hence, it would have been much wiser and better for the economy as well as less risky if these new resorts had been awarded to 11 new parties, who do not have any resorts but could benefit enormously from owning and managing a resort, such as the prominent travel agents in Maldives, like Sea N See, Skorpion Travel, Capital Travel & Tours and Inner Maldives, just to mention a few. Sadly, Gayyoom knows bugger all about economics and hasn�t got a clue of the definition of economy of scale. Maumoon is unlikely to change his decisions but let us at least hope that the resort owners have the courage to demand for a reduction of rent based on the current change in the demand for Maldives as a result of the December '04 tsunami. Surely, Maldives is no longer the ultimate worry free holiday destination in the world and according to confirmed reports from resort operators, they have seen a totally different trend of business than it was before the tsunami and the threat of another tsunami at any given time will undoubtedly be detrimental to the tourism industry. Once again, sadly, Gayyoom has no idea what global economy means or rather what macro-economics is. Tourism Ministry which calculates rents for the current existing resorts has a policy of charging high rents to those resorts which are closer to Male International Airport and the lower to those which are further away. The further away it is, the lower the rent is calculated perhaps makes economic sense. Those who have been granted resorts at rents of USD7,250 to Maldivian Bangalhi price Shuaib for Hdh.Dhonakulhi and USD7,000 taken by Abdul Rauf (M.Snowrose) for Lh. Hudhufushi, are both still not in operation. Abdul Rauf was given a 50% write-off for the rent he owed to the government till December of 2004 because his daughter is married to Prince Faris, Son of King Gayyoom and similar favours rendered to Shuaib because he is married to Prince Dunya, daughter of Gayyoom who is Gayyoom�s favourite to succeed him to the throne. Only a few will benefit from this deal, Gayyoom and his cronies like Ismail Firag. Winner of these resorts are not the richest people in Maldives but will in deed file for bankruptcy unless a more democratic government is installed who will review their rents in accordance with international and global market trends and based on macro-economics.
The 'Unlucky' Winners are:
SH. ALIDHOO
Awarded to Tranquility Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ahmed Saleem(H. Fashan) and Zuleyha Mohamed of the same house for an average rent of USD11,080 per bed over the next 10 years
HDH. HONDAAFUSHI
Awarded to Mr Abdulla Ali (H.Giritherege), the main shareholder of AAA company which already operates 4 resorts for an average rent of USD27,777 over the next 10 years
SH DHOLHIYADHOO
Awarded to Mr Mohmed Latheef (H Baraboamaage) for an average rent of USD17,950 per bed over the next 10 years
N RANDHELI
Awarded to the late Mohamed Zahid (Six-X Zahid) of M. Vaadheege (Maumoon�s relative) for an average rent of USD18,125 per bed over the next 10 years
N MAAVELAVARU
Awarded to Big Island Resorts Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Husnu Al Suood (Husband of Sunland shareholder�s sister) of Ma. Uraha, Dr Abdullah Zahir (again another husband of Sunland shareholder�s sister) of Ma. Uraha and Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Baaree (Sunland Shareholder) of H. Lantan for an average rent of USD21,550 per bed over the next 10 years
TH. KALHUFAHALAFUSHI
Awarded Mr. Shabeer Ahmed (H. Millennia), the largest shareholder of Sunland Pvt Ltd for an average rent of USD26,758 per bed over the next 10 years
L. OLHUVELI
Awarded to Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Didi (Neeravali, Gn. Fuahmulah / c/o: G. Veyla) for an average rent of USD16,649.8 per bed over the next 10 years
GA. FUNAMAUDUA
Awarded to Dhekunu Dhuni Investments Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Aishath Lululina (Daughter of Sunland shareholder Mr Nazeer of H. Gadhage Hulhangubai, Mohamed Muzuny (Ma. Thabagge�) and Mohamed Nazeer (Sunland Shareholder) of H. Lantan for an average rent of USD10,350 per bed over the next 10 years
GA. HADAHAA
was awarded to Driftwood Maldives Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ashraf Ali, Arshad Ali, Asad Ali and Shaaheena Ali, all from M. Vaareyvilla for an average rent of USD10,300 per bed over the next 10 years
GDH. KONOTTA
Awarded to Crystal Lagoon Resorts Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ali Ahmed(S. Maradhoo, (Keeranmaage) and Mohamed Rasheed (M. Hanifaru) and Ahmed Haleem`(Ma. Naibuge�) and Abdullah Ali`(Gdh. Thinadhoo Fen Muleege) for an average rent of USD11,600 per bed over the next 10 years
GDH.LONUDHUAHUTTA
Awarded to One and Half Degree Maldives Pvt Ltd, whose shareholder are Ibrahim Naseer (M. Naseemusobaa) and Hussein Solah (G. Fithuroanuge�) for an average rent of USD12,500 per bed over the next 10 years
