Government reduces electricity charges for domestic use

Government has announced its plans to reduce electricity charges for domestic use.

In a presentation held at TVM by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), Chairman Ibrahim Waheed announced that households which use 1 to 100 units, 101 to 200 units, 201 to 300 units, 301 to 400 unites would be charged MRF 1.50, MRF 1.70, MRF 2.15 and MRF 2.50 respectively. NSPA Chairman also said that according to new plan government would subsidize MRF 0.75, MRF 0.80, MRF 0.35 and MRF 0.40 for every per unit for the households which use maximum of 100, 200, 300 and 400 units. In addition, NSPA also confirmed that surcharge would also be borne by the government.

In comparison this means that the households whose electricity usage are below 100 units would have paid MRF 1.60 per unit under the previous administration but would now be paying MRF 1.50 per unit.

Ibrahim Waheed also said that when the new subsidies were issued to 15,704 households at the beginning of the year, and another 8,805 households were added to the figure in March and April. However, Ibrahim Waheed said that the new measure would be effective for five months after the grace period subsidies would be provided to only those who are eligible.

Ibrahim Waheed also said that there are no changes to the eligilibility of the subsidies and same criteria is in use at the moment. Ibrahim Waheed also added that new move would include 50% of Male households under subsidies mechanism for the 5 month period as 50% of Male households does not use electricity more than 400 units.

Ibrahim Waheed also denied that some of the requests for subsidies has been flatly denied as according to him 700 requests has been accommodated out of 750 requests. He also noted that those who did not get the subsidies were those whose forms were incomplete.

Ibrahim Waheed also said that the government could not reduce the charges for residents of Male alone, as it will also has to work to reduce charges for the Maldivians living in provinces. He also confirmed that NSPA is in consultation with the Utility Companies on how to provide subsidies in provinces. Once they reach an understanding details of the subsidies for provinces would be announced, according to NSPA.

Ibrahim Waheed also noted that when subsidies are issued to company rather than the customers, all customers get evenly advantaged while income brackets are different among customers. Ibrahim Waheed also noted that the new strategy is in line with Islam as well, which obtaining money from the rich and subsidizing for the poor.

Despite government efforts, DRP announced yesterday that it would go ahead with demonstrations in the evening as planned.

2. Parliamentary committee begin deliberations on Gitmo questions

Despite the usual notion that Minister would be the one who would have to be accountable to parliament, National Security Committee of the Parliament has decided to summon government officials who signed letters sent to the Attorney General’s Office and the Parliament on the Guantanamo Bay issue saying that they were contradictory. Parlimentary committee also found the “contradiction” as ammunition to conclude that government’s foul-play on the issue.

The decision was made in a committee meeting held Sunday morning to deliberate on the case filed by Thoddu MP Ali Waheed of DRP, which is attempting to block the President’s move, which he said is of “humanitarian grounds”.

DRP MP’s confusion arises because MPs used the word “agreed” used in the Foreign Ministry letter to AG Office and in the US Embassy note, as “agreed” in the sense means verbal agreements and not official acceptance through written documentation.

A letter by Deputy Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Aishath Liusha Zahir, head of the Multilateral Department and Ministry’s lawyer sent a letter to AG Office on 28 March saying that the US and Maldives governments has agreed in principle on the exchange of detainees. The letter also mentioned an attached note claimed to have been sent by the US Embassy proposing a legal framework for the transfer and sought the AG’s advice on it.

But a second letter signed by Ahmed Naseem, State Minister, actually confirmed that there was no written agreement. However, Committee Chair Abudlla Yamin said that the letter signed by State Minister Ahmed Naseem said that the request was only “mentioned in talks between the two governments and no further steps towards a Guantanamo Bay resettlement have taken place”. State Minister’s letter actually meant that Maldives government has not responded to US embassy’s note, whereby it will accept or deny the offer by the US. The letter also read that the matter had been discussed by the National Security Council and the Foreign Minister had the details.

Committee’s DRP members accused the government of having a hidden agenda and agreed to summon Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Additional Secretary Liusha and State Minister Naseem.

Ali Waheed, who in the first place has made the issue a national one, today said that he is yet to “verify” the documents.

Out of MDP’s 6 MPs at the Committee only 3 were present, while all other party’s MPs and independents were in full force. MDP MPs said that the government would cooperate with the inquiry and added that documents and officials are readily available.

Opposition MPs said they intended to clarify plans for the Guantanamo Bay resettlement and find out related threats to the country. The MPs repeatedly added that they “would not agree to bring inmates from a prison dedicated for world renowned terrorists.”

The committee also decided to summon Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh, Chief of Defence Force Moosa Ali Jaleel, a senior official of President’s Office and Attorney General Husnu-Suood.

Despite the request by the Committee, AG has not disclosed his legal advice to the Committee. AG has previously said that as the request for his legal opinion was made by the Foreign Ministry, it would not be ethical to disclose it.