The meeting was introduced by Mr. Manoj Pant, advisor to the council member for the GEF South Asia Constituency. He emphasized on the pressing need for broadening the role of GEF due to the present financial turmoil and called South Asia Constituency to seek for further opportunities from GEF. Additionally he expressed the significance of having regular constituency meetings and assured that essential support will be provided by GEF to its member countries.

In this meeting the documents for June 2012 council meeting was discussed and constituency perspective on important issues was developed. Presentations on recommendations for GEF council were delivered by representing countries and GEF agencies (WB, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and FAO) presented on the opportunities and challenges faced by them and their vision of GEF’s engagement in the region.

Day 2 of the meeting (16 May 2012), involved a field trip to Baa Atoll to inspect the Atoll Ecosystem-Based Conservation project site and a tour of Hanifaru Biosphere Reserve.

GEF South Asia Constituency comprises of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The council member representing this constituency is Mr. M.N. Prasad. GEF participants have been grouped into 32 constituencies with 18 constituencies composed of recipient countries. Approximately 15 representatives from Constituency member states, GEF, World Bank and international organizations attended this meeting.

By choosing Magician of Time as the exclusive brand of face treatment for its SPA, the elegant Constance Halaveli Resort joins the revered V35, Valmont’s Prestige SPA Club.

With its immaculate white sand beaches, its turquoise lagoon stretching to the horizon and its luxuriant vegetation, Constance Halaveli Resort in the Maldives naturally blends into the idyllic setting of the Ari Atoll. Time has no meaning here. In this magnificent setting, guests chart a course through gourmet pleasures and spectacular scuba diving. Constance Halaveli Resort deserved an exceptional Spa…  hence the Valmont Spa was born.

A cozy ambiance and subtle luxury… the Valmont SPA for Constance Halaveli Resort combines well-being and beauty with 10 cabins, for individuals (5 cabins) and couples (3 cabins). An Asian perfume wafts through the Ayurvedic and Thai massage rooms and the yoga area; well-being and beauty reign supreme against a backdrop of exotic wood and natural stones.

Among other emblematic Valmont treatments, the SPA menu offers an exclusive treatment specifically created by the Swiss house: “Valmont After Diving Treatment.” Devoted to restoring the skin and caring for the hair after diving, this 45-minute treatment features alternating hydrating masks and modelage massages to relieve congestion, while pampering the contour of the eye with a collagen mask. After a dive in the lagoon, a dip in the fountain of youth!

The Ministry urged all visitors to verify if reservations are made by a local travel agent in Maldives by checking the list of agents. The Ministry added that this will help protect the interests of the client to avoid the unexpected.

According to the ministry of tourism 145 travel agencies are registered in the Maldives. The list of all travel agents is available from the official website of the Ministry.

At the cabinet meeting held yesterday, the President said that he decided for his first visit to be to India, since assumption of office, because of the close friendship both the countries have always shared.

The President briefed the cabinet on the discussions held with his meetings with the President, Prime Minister, Minister of External Affairs, and the Foreign Secretary, during his visit to India. The President said that he ensured that the Indian leaders were clear on the current political and economical state of the Maldives. He also said that he had given assurance to the Indian leaders, that the Maldives was functioning in a very transparent environment, as required from a democratic country.

President Waheed further shared details of his meetings with the top business leaders in Delhi and Mumbai. The President said that he had had very productive discussions with a number of travel agents, in promoting Maldives’ tourism in India.

The President also shared with the cabinet, the details of the financial assistance assured by India, in overcoming the economical challenges of the country.

Waheed, who was propelled to the Maldivian presidency under extraordinary circumstances after incumbent Mohamed Nasheed resigned on Feb 7 following a police rebellion, said he was personally committed to holding early elections, but reiterated that political consensus was eluding the coalition government.

“I can assure you that Maldives is committed to democracy. I assure you there is no threat to democracy in Maldives,” Waheed said at a press conference on the third day of his five-day visit to India and after holding talks with the top Indian political leadership on the troubled situation in his country.

“I am personally in favour of early elections. But, except for Nasheed’s party, all other parties in the country are against elections before July 2013. Also, the constitution has to be amended for holding early elections and for that we need two-thirds majority. This is unlikely to happen now,” Waheed said.

Asked for India’s response to the situation in Maldives during his talks with the leadership here, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Waheed said: “India is not pushing us to do anything that is against our constitutional.”

Waheed is in India within three weeks of Nasheed visiting here to drum up support for his call for early presidential polls.

According to the statement issued by the party yesterday MDP alleged that since the inception of the current government there have been many power shortages in Male’ City and the people are experiencing many difficulties because of it.

MDP said that “the people working in the projects that involves the fixing the electrical problems have all left with the transfer of power by a coup by the current leaders with the help of the police and a few MNDF officers. Because of this there have been shortages in the electricity and not enough is produced.”

“The state of the electricity in Male’ has spiraled back to many years. Electricity is being cut off without any prior notice resulting in many difficulties for the people,” MDP said.

In the press release, the party said that they condemn this in the strongest terms and called the government to resolve these issues immediately.

MDP accused the government of deliberately cutting off the electricity from different parts of Male’ City to minimize the subsidy given to the people.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Abbas said that no other coalition with the government in the history of the country ever survived hundred years. He said that the Wathan Edey coalition of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s regime lasted for only 21 days.

Abbas said that this clearly shows the capability and wisdom of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed. He said that the President is a capable leader who has the patience and perseverance in leading such a coalition.

It is noted that since his ascension to the Presidency of Maldives President Dr. Waheed only went on an official visit to India alone. And during concluding his visit he came with 90 million dollar assistance from India.

The President also assured the gaining of more foreign investments to Maldives.

MDP President Dr. Didi said that the Anti Corruption Commission should investigate the misuses of the state assets by the former President Nasheed. He said that although Nasheed claims to be the vanguard of the environment, almost nothing has been done to safeguard the environment of Maldives and to resolve environmental issues faced by the country.

Dr.Didi said that he believes that Nasheed is a charlatan and all his environmental talks are just an act. He said that he was only seeking international attention by his public talks on the environment.

Dr. Didi also said that everything that Nasheed does is to gain popularity and fame. He said that the under cabinet meeting was a publicity stunt of Nasheed which he did to be known in the internal community.

The President said that he had to take the oath of office suddenly therefore he had no plans on resolving the economic crisis faced by the country then, but now many things have been done and that these works have yielded many benefits for the people.

Press Secretary Abbas Adhil Rida said that the major accomplishments of the current administration include the freedom given to the media which was earlier hijacked by the former regime, reinstating the deducted salary of the Civil Servants, passing and ratifying the Thalassemia bill and also the bill on domestic violence.

“In addition to this cutting down of the government expenditure and minimizing the number of political appointees are also from the achievements of President Dr.Waheed’s government. And to increase the state income the government have increased the lands leased for resorts by ten percent,” he said.

Abbas also noted that the government has been gaining popularity among the people over the passing days. “5 elections have been held and four elections were won by the government. Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won only one election. Only one seat. All major constituencies’ seats were won by the associates of the government. Is this not the popularity that the government has gained from the people?,” he asked.

The aim of this course is to teach corporals how to lead a squad, a fire team or an equivalent element under command of them and instill in them the leadership skills to accomplish their task. 34 corporals from different units of MNDF are participating in this three week long course.

Further objectives of the course include inculcating corporals with the basic skills that are required while undertaking their responsibility on any assigned task. In addition to this, the MNDF Act, rules and regulations formed under the Act, the ethics and procedures essential for the corporals would also be taught to the participants.

Furthermore, troop leading process plan, orders that corporals are required to deliver to the squads and its practical sessions, leadership and counseling skills, swimming and physical education, basic religion studies, maritime studies including joint operation scenario skills would be taught to the course participants.