General decline in fisheries all over Maldives

MALE, Feb 3 (HNS) - Since the beginning of last week, Maldives has been experiencing a slump in fisheries throughout the country. The Haa Alifu atoll region in the north has been plagued with bad catches since last month, and the companies involved in buying fish in that region have said that they get to buy an average of only 10 to 15 tonnes of fish these days. The main reason for such poor catches is simply because the fishing season is over. Despite this, exporters are confident that mid-February will yield better catches. It has been sometime since fisheries declined in central Maldives, though the south does not appear to be experiencing as much trouble.

President appoints two new Atoll Chiefs

MALE, June 18 (HNS) – President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has appointed new Atoll Chiefs to Meemu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls.Shuaib Yousuf of M. Dhessa was appointed as the Atoll Chief of Meemu atoll, while Ahmed Rasheed of M. Niyami was appointed as the Atoll Chief of Gaafu Dhaalu atoll. The two Atoll Chiefs took their oath of office in the presence of the President at the President's Office on Tuesday morning. The oath was administered by the Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim.The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Atolls Administration, Abdulla Hameed, and Abdulla Shahid, the Executive Secretary to the President.

Third fisheries zone could be lucrative: investors

MALE, May 21 (HNS) -- Investors eyeing the new fisheries zone believe that, business may be very good in the area. The third fisheries zone, now open for bid, could be a lucrative zone, according to some entrepreneurs who have bought bid documents for the zone which covers some eight atolls in the south of the country. Haveeru learns that nearly 10 parties have bought bid documents for the zone which include the North and South Ari atolls, and Vaavu, Meemu, Faafu, Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu atolls. According to one potential investor, who had bought a bid document for Rf5,000 ($=12.85), the main problem of the zone is its vastness and poor fish catch. "In actuality, it is not that that fishery is not good, but as this is a major tourism zone, the number of active fishermen is very low. However, if fishermen can be convinced that they can generate good income, they would be motivated to venture into this zone," he said. The main aim of investors in this zone should be to "revive the fisheries" among the people in those atolls, he said. "Then one (investors) could get a good income from the zone," he said. Another businessman said that as the zone is extensive, investors could operate successful ventures. He said that this is a "golden opportunity" for the business community and that fishing is the "future of the country." The last date for submission of bid documents for zone three is June 16.

Bay of Bengal states seek free-trade pact

COLOMBO, Mar 9 (AFP) - Commerce ministers from five countries around the Bay of Bengal Friday called for a free-trade pact to boost regional economic cooperation. The ministers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand set up a group of experts to work out the details and ensure a framework treaty by February next year, Sri Lanka's Commerce Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. "We are positive that we can move towards an FTA (free-trade agreement)," Karunanayake told reporters after the one-day ministerial meet. "We are looking to the future and we see a lot of possibilities." The BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation) ministers also agreed to look at relaxing visa restrictions for businesspeople travelling between member states. They will also ask their ambassadors to work closely in Geneva to ensure a common position on World Trade Organisation issues, Karunanayake said.

Child sex abuse -- the enemy within

SELF-HELP by Fathmath Ibrahim (Iko*) While doing research for this article, I read a very graphic book on this topic called 'Bitter chocolate' by Pinki Virani. At one point, I couldn't go on. The stories were too real and too close to heart. A close friend of mine was abused at the age of 13 years. Part of her is and will always be retarded and in denial. But part of her, like so many of us, will always be fighting -- to stop this 'enemy within' from preying on another child! Child sexual abuse is a societal problem of staggering proportion and consequence in Maldives. Studies indicate that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of sixteen. The personal and societal costs of this abuse are appalling. Child sexual abuse is a hidden and secretive affair. Less than one in ten victims ever "tells", and only a small percentage of sexual abuse cases are ever reported. Child sexual abuse is a society's dirtiest, darkest and most damaging secret. Of course, you may choose to deny it. But it is very much among us here in Maldives. Incest does occur. Pedophiles are lurking like vampires ready to draw blood. And like vampires, they are also invited guests. The enemy is therefore, within. They're in our homes, our neighborhoods and our communities. The statistics are climbing higher and we can no longer choose to ignore it. The latest data from the Units for the Rights of Children in Maldives show 22 cases of child sexual abuse (with an average age of 9 years!) has been reported during the months of January to April this year. This is only the figure reported; can you imagine the numbers out there who are unknown? Just think, as you are reading this, a child is being abused somewhere. Child sexual abuse is any inappropriate sexual behavior towards the child and could be anything from penetration, using an object, or even forcing pornographic material on the child. Based on the figures, it is evident that most abuse root from the child's home and by someone in the family or close to the family; 85% of the children abused are females and 96% of the offenders are males. Often the offender is someone the child knows and trusts and someone who knows the functioning of the household. Some caregivers are aware of such abuse but choose not to believe it or ignore it altogether. Sometimes the child tries to communicate his or her grief but it may not always be clear. Therefore, it is very important good communication is established from the start and children are given the confidence that they can tell their mommy or daddy anything. The abuser may have threatened the child, or the child may be hesitant to tell the parents in fear that they will not believe it. We need to empower our children with their rights and teach them how to say 'NO'. Parents and teachers need to know how to recognize signs of abuse and how to get help. We need to change societal attitudes towards sexual abuse – it is never acceptable and it's never OK. By trying to protect your family's izzath (honor), you're only hurting your child who has been deprived of his or her innocence and rights. So my appeal to you readers: please don't let the enemy within win. [*Iko is a psychologist working with the Narcotics Control Board (NCB). If you have any questions or concerns about drug abuse and related social or interpersonal issues, please email her at: fi4@waikato.ac.nz]

Dhiraagu to reduce Internet tariffs, charge flat rates

MALE, Feb 6 (HNS) – Dhiraagu is to reduce Internet tariffs and charge flat rates for all hours, the telecommunications company announced. "We cannot say as yet by how much the tariff will be reduced," Dhiraagu's Internet protocol and data manager Ibrahim Riyaz told Haveeru in an interview. When Dhiraagu goes for the reduced rate on Internet dial-up tariffs towards the end of the month, the telecom company is to charge a flat rate for all hours. There will be no off-peak or peak hours with regard to Internet tariffs, Riyaz said. "People will be able to use the Internet at a cheap price at all times of the day," he said. Since Dhiraagu -- Maldives' sole Internet Service Provider (ISP) -- started Internet service here in 1996, this will be the seventh time it has gone for a price reduction in Internet tariffs. Dhiraagu is presently working towards the introduction of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology in Maldives.

One in three under-5 children in Maldives underweight: UN agencies

MALE, Dec 16 (HNS) - Every one in three children of under five years of age in Maldives are underweight, according to the United Nations agencies here. The reason for this is lack of proper nutrition, the UN said in a leaflet titled "One Family One Voice." Other reasons include obstacles in access to healthcare facilities, lack of breastfeeding habit among women, poor hygiene among children and increased infection among them. The UN also noted lack of proper nutrition among expecting mothers as a cause of under-5 children being underweight here. This factor denies children healthy physical development. A cause of lack of nutrition in Maldivian people's diet may be the absence of healthy foods and a balanced diet in Maldivians' dietary habits, according to the UN agencies. Items such as fruits and vegetables are prominently lacking in Maldivians' diet. The UN noted that it is quite difficult for most Maldivians to integrate fruits and vegetables into their diet because it is difficult to get them in the first place, and expensive, too.

Taking care of the handicapped part of Islamic framework of solidarity: Gayoom

MALE, Mar 12 (HNS) - President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Monday said that Islam stressed the social obligation to take care of those with special needs through catering to their requirements and enabling them to become productive members of the society, and pointed out that providing such care was part of the Islamic framework of solidarity and civic responsibility. The President made the statement while addressing the function held at Giyaasuddin School to award certificates to the participants of the courses conducted by Care Society and to those who had helped the NGO in various ways. Gayoom said that Islam taught every member of the community to be equal and with inherent rights, and called upon everyone to safeguard the rights of each and everyone and to strive to achieve happiness, well-being and advancement for all. He said that undertaking charitable and philanthropic activities that benefited people with low incomes, the orphaned, the widowed, the elderly, the indisposed, and the differently able persons within the community, and helping them to become productive members of the society were incumbent upon the community under the principles of Islamic solidarity and civic responsibility. The President said that those with special needs can be fully integrated into the society as productive and happy members of the community through the support of their families and friends, and through the help of other members of the society. Pointing out that every individual was endowed with certain talents and aptitudes, Gayoom said that persons with special needs also could be trained to join the job market. He added that when the talents and the skills of an individual were developed and encouraged by others, he or she could make a meaningful contribution to the development of the nation. Further, the President said that it was incumbent on families and on the entire society to give extra care and devotion and to provide an education to differently able persons to help them become productive members of their family and citizens who contributed to national development. Praising the efforts being made by Care Society to assist in various ways those in the community with special needs, and to make them productive citizens, the President thanked Fathimath Afiya, Executive Director of Care Society and the executives and the members of the Society. He also congratulated the participants and those who achieved commendable results in the courses conducted by Care Society. Gayoom was presented a commemorative plaque on behalf of Care Society by Afiya and also was presented a Video Compact Disc of a song that he had composed for Care Society. The VCD was offered to the President by two students of Care Society. The certificates for commendable achievement and for participation in the courses conducted by Care Society and for assisting Care Society in various ways were given away by the President. Ijazulla Abdulla Ali provided a brief outline of the courses that had been conducted by Care Society. He noted the importance given by the President to the work of Care Society, and expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Society, to the President for gracing the function.

40 percent of nurses foreigners: Health Ministry

MALE, May 13 (HNS) - Nearly 40 percent of the nurses currently working in Maldives are foreigners, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Of the 681 nurses 267 or 39.2 percent are foreigners. Maldivian nurses represent 60.8 percent, according to Health Ministry figures. Even among staff nurses, foreigners number 262 while Maldivians represent 169. The Health Ministry said that the number of youths seeking the profession has been increasing.