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President Mohamed Nasheed has opened Vivanta Coral Reef Maldives by Taj, today. This is the first international hotel to carry Taj’s Vivanta brand.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the Vivanta Coral Reef Maldives by Taj this afternoon, President Nasheed said he rejoices the fact that one of the best and the most able investment groups and business entrepreneurships of India and the world had been introduced to the Maldives with the opening of the resort. The President said the government would welcome Indian and other international business enterprises who wish to invest in the Maldives.
In his address, President Nasheed said the government was burdened with a number of state-owned industries, which could be run privately, and provide better services and more benefits the people.
He said, through the privatisation programme, the government was looking for international investors to form joint ventures, or to operate on their own to provide electricity, transport and other utilities to the people on corporate basis.
Noting that the most private investments in the Maldives were in the tourism sector, President Nasheed reiterated his belief that investments in utilities and provision of other public services in the Maldives would be as commercially viable as the tourism sector investments.
Furthermore, the President said the government policy was to develop a model of providing public services and utilities, in which the water, electricity and sewerage systems of the resorts and inhabited islands around the resort could be combined to take the advantages of economies of scale.
President Nasheed also said that the government was mindful of the effects of climate change in planning all its developmental activities. He noted that resort developers had been at the forefront of developing adaptation measures.
President Mohamed Nasheed has expressed concern over the Herétheré issue, during his visit to Meedhoo of Addu atoll. He also said the government was committed to finding a solution to the Herétheré issue.
Addressing the people of Meedhoo, the President reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver its electoral pledges. Speaking in this regard, he said, work was now being done for the delivery of basic services, including housing, electricity, water supply and sewerage system.
As part of his tour to Addu atoll, the President also visited Hulhudhoo and met with the people of the island. He briefed the people on the status of the developmental projects planned for the island.
President Mohamed Nasheed today visited Maradhoo-Feydhoo of Addu atoll and introduced biofuels.
Speaking at a function held at the social centre, the President said biofuels use less energy and this can give higher overall efficiency. He also thanked the Malaysian company for introducing this new technology in the Maldives.
The President also today visited Maradhoo and met with the people with the people of island. Addressing the people, the President said he was confident that the government could successfully implement the developmental projects planned for the islands. He also reiterated the importance of having a decentralised administration.
As part of his tour to Addu atoll, the President, this evening, visited Hithadhoo and met with the people.
The long awaited dream of the Addu Atoll people was realised yesterday when the Shangril La’s Villingili Resort and Spa was opened for businesses.
Villingili Resort and Spa opened on the day Maldives gained independence from the British, is the first international luxury resort established in the south Maldives.
The inaugural ceremony held at the resort was attended by Tourism Minister Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawaadh , State Minister for Southern Province Mohamed Naseer , senior management of the resort and leading dignitaries of the atoll.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, tourism minister Dr. Sawaadh noted that the tourism in southern Maldives will see considerable expansion and development in the next 5 years. He said with the opening of Villingili Resort and Spa, the long awaited dreams of Addu people has come true.
The ceremony was also addressed by the General Manager of the Villingili Resort and Spa and CEO of Shangril – La.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in the southern Maldives, on Addu Atoll. The resort features 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Malé International Airport is 70 minutes by domestic flights operating around the clock.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is also the first resort in the Maldives to feature tree house villas. Perched on stilts three metres above the ground and featuring an elevated infinity pool, the tree house villas offers guests an original holiday experience with views of the surfing waves of the Indian Ocean through lush foliage. The resort has 16 tree house villas, affording beautiful views over the Indian Ocean. Guests will be able to choose to swim to the edge of their elevated infinity pool and gaze at the rolling waves coming in from the ocean or to recline on their day bed while enjoying the melody of the indigenous bird life.
President Mohamed Nasheed is expected to visit the resort on 28 July.
President Mohamed Nasheed has, this afternoon, inaugurated Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort and Spa in South Miladhunmadulu atoll.
Upon arrival at the resort, the President was greeted by Chairman of Sun Hotels, Mr Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and senior management of Hilton.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President expressed hope that the resort would contribute for greater advancement of the tourism sector.
He also spoke on the importance of good management practices. Speaking in this regard, the President said good management practices were essential for sustainable tourism.
Stressing that the world was now undergoing an economic slowdown, the President called on all stakeholders in tourism industry to sacrifice their personal differences and to peacefully resolve any grievances that they may have.
President Nasheed also spoke on the importance of protecting the environment. He said that the resorts in the Maldives could play an important role in this endeavour. He further said democracy was an important adaptation measure to climate change.
The Indian Hotel Company Ltd (IHCL’s) operated Taj Coral Reef Resort in Maldives will be relaunched under the ‘Vivanta by Taj’ banner by August 2009. The resort has undergone extensive refurbishment by architects Grounds Kent Architects and interior designers PWP Interiors. The property will be known as Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef Maldives.
The re-branded resort property will feature 62 villas, of which two are beach villa suites and will have private accommodation along with the in-house Jiva Spa. Other accommodation options include thatched beach villas with large beach side porticoes or the water villas, with private decks overlooking the lagoon. Each villa is equipped with state-of-the-art LCD TV, home theatre system with ipod connectivity, sound system, WiFi / high speed Internet and mini bars. The F&B options will include three restaurants Latitude, the all day dining restaurant, The Hembadhu Grill, which will offer an alfresco dining experience and the open air Reef Bar.
Source: hospitalitybizindia.com
The British High Commissioner to the Maldives Dr Peter Heyes has paid a courtesy call on President Nasheed. The meeting was held this morning at the President’s Office.
Discussions were focused on the negotiations in the lead up to Copenhagen, and the importance that both the Maldives and the UK attached to the success of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen.
Dr Peter Hayes congratulated the President for having received this year’s Anna Lindh Prize.
He also briefed the President on the proposals made by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his speech at the launch of the Roadmap to Copenhagen manifesto on the challenge of climate change and development.
President Nasheed said effective measures needed to be taken to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and also contribute to adaptation. Moreover, the President said that sound environmental policies required good governance and therefore promotion of democracy would contribute to greener policies.
The President also stressed that for vulnerable countries like the Maldives, climate change is also a human rights issue and that the world urgently needs to address this issue.
Alila Villas Hadahaa brings an ultra-luxurious style of resort living to the peaceful shores of a tropical island in Huvadhoo, one of the largest and deepest natural atolls in the world. The essence of the Maldives – nature, ocean, sun and surf – flows freely from the island’s lush vegetation and pristine fine sandy beaches to the cr ystal clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, where untouched and unexplored coral reefs are home to abundant aquatic life. Situated only 55 km from the Equator, the island is also blessed with a truly unique night sky glittering with stars from both the nor thern and southern hemispheres, beautifully capturing the authentic Maldivian experience of unhindered space and tranquility.
Designed by award-winning SCDA Architects, Alila Villas Hadahaa is a pioneer of sustainable design in the Mal-dives, the first resort here to be Green Globe certified, constructed from the ground up to preser ve the natural island environment and ambience.
The resor t’s 14 aqua villas elevated over the lagoon, and 36 island villas – 20 with private pools – feature natural timber and stone, imbuing the minimalist contemporar y design with an indigenous touch. Huge sliding windows and private open-air decks eliminate the boundaries between you and nature, offering panoramic views that stretch to infinity.
Savour the relaxed spirit of the islands with the culinary delights of the stylish contemporary “Relish” and in our traditional Maldivian restaurant “Battuta’s”. Cocktails at the poolside bar, and blissful pampering at Spa by Mandara. At Alila Villas Hadahaa indulge in the sensation of absolute wellbeing in and oasis of unparalleled luxury and exquisite perfection.
A Twitter message written by a Maldivian A’ Level student has landed him in hot water, with examination board Edexcel investigating whether the message was sent during exam hours.
Ahmed Naif, 18, from the Centre for Higher Secondary Education (CSHE) in the capital Male’, had his exam results withheld after posting the following update, ‘Writing Edexcel AS Level Business Studies Exam’, on 21 May.
Twitter is a micro-blogging service that allows its users to send messages of up to 140 words known as tweets. Updates can be sent either via SMS or the internet.
But speaking to Minivan News today, Naif said the message was sent from a computer at home, an hour before his examination began.
Minivan News can confirm the message was sent from the web at 9.41am, while the exam started at 10.45am.
“The only possible reason they are investigating this is because I wrote in the continuous tense,” said Naif. “But I don’t think it’s the right of Edexcel to withhold results when they don’t have any clear proof.”
Although the time to sit the international exams is between 9am and 12pm, said Ahmed Waheed, the supervisor at the school, the exams start later in the Maldives, if they are only 1hr 15mins in length.
He added all students were prohibited from taking mobile phones into the exam hall.
“We are not worried at all because it’s very clear that it was not sent during exam time,” said Waheed.
Naif has since sent a letter explaining his case to Edexcel via the department of public examinations (DPE) in the Maldives, which is currently investigating his case.
DPE Director Ahmed Shakeeb said they will report their findings to Edexcel today. “So far we haven’t got any clue that he’s taken a phone into the room,” he said.
On how Edexcel had come across the tweet, Shakeeb said complaints were often made by friends either to the British exam board or the DPE.
Further, Edexcel most likely has a system where it is able to check various forms of communication, he said.
Asked the same question, Naif replied: “Big brother’s watching everywhere.”
Source: Minivannews
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