Government to draft symbolic tourist wedding regulation in a week
| DATE: 2010-10-31 | Haveeru
The decision comes days after a video surfaced on social networks and popular video sharing website YouTube, which showed employees at Vilu Reef Beach and Spa resort mocking and humiliating a tourist couple renewing their marriage vows.
Permanent Secretary Ahmed Solih said discussions were held with Maldives Association for Tourism Industry (MATI), Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Liver Board Association of Maldives and Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) on Saturday.
“The regulation will be compiled within this week. The regulation will contain how the symbolic marriage will be performed,” he said.
International media raised concerns over the Vilu Reef fould ‘wedding’.
President Mohamed Nasheed Friday said the government would introduce strict guidelines on conducting wedding ceremonies for tourists in the Maldives.
While symbolic marriages are common in Maldivian resorts, Tourism Ministry earlier tried to introduce guidelines for the marriages. The ministry’s efforts, however, came to a dead end due to the lack of support from relevant authorities. President Nasheed apologises to 'fake wedding vows' couple
| DATE: 2010-10-31 |Haveeru
In a telephone call on Saturday afternoon from the president's official residence, Muleeaage, President Nasheed told the couple that "the entire country is deeply saddened and sorry for what has happened."
The president explained to the couple - who have requested anonymity - that the Maldives Police Service has arrested two members of the resort's staff who conducted the ceremony. The two are being held in police custody under a warrant.
The president said he will "personally oversee an overhaul to the way wedding vows ceremonies are conducted in the Maldives."
“The government will announce strict new regulations within the week covering all resorts and hotels in the country,” he said.
President Nasheed invited the couple back to the Maldives at their convenience as his personal guests.
The couple thanked President Nasheed for taking the time to personally intervene in this matter.
The couple further told the president that their images have been published in the media without their consent, which is causing them considerable distress and embarrassment and asked the president to appeal to the media to respect their privacy and anonymity.
President Nasheed calls on the media not to reproduce photographs or video footage of the couple without their consent and to report the incident in a sensitive manner, the President’s Office said.
According to the office, the president ended the telephone conversation by ensuring the couple that his office will keep them updated on the ongoing investigation into this matter.
Maldives Ambassador in Geneva Iruthisham Adam also telephoned the couple Friday afternoon to offer the government’s "profound and heartfelt apologies."
| DATE: 2010-10-31 | Haveeru
MALE, October 31 (HNS) – Tourism Ministry will draft regulations for symbolic marriages in Maldivian resorts within a week.
The decision comes days after a video surfaced on social networks and popular video sharing website YouTube, which showed employees at Vilu Reef Beach and Spa resort mocking and humiliating a tourist couple renewing their marriage vows.
Permanent Secretary Ahmed Solih said discussions were held with Maldives Association for Tourism Industry (MATI), Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Liver Board Association of Maldives and Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) on Saturday.
“The regulation will be compiled within this week. The regulation will contain how the symbolic marriage will be performed,” he said.
International media raised concerns over the Vilu Reef fould ‘wedding’.
President Mohamed Nasheed Friday said the government would introduce strict guidelines on conducting wedding ceremonies for tourists in the Maldives.
While symbolic marriages are common in Maldivian resorts, Tourism Ministry earlier tried to introduce guidelines for the marriages. The ministry’s efforts, however, came to a dead end due to the lack of support from relevant authorities.
| DATE: 2010-10-31 |Haveeru
In a telephone call on Saturday afternoon from the president's official residence, Muleeaage, President Nasheed told the couple that "the entire country is deeply saddened and sorry for what has happened."
The president explained to the couple - who have requested anonymity - that the Maldives Police Service has arrested two members of the resort's staff who conducted the ceremony. The two are being held in police custody under a warrant.
The president said he will "personally oversee an overhaul to the way wedding vows ceremonies are conducted in the Maldives."
“The government will announce strict new regulations within the week covering all resorts and hotels in the country,” he said.
President Nasheed invited the couple back to the Maldives at their convenience as his personal guests.
The couple thanked President Nasheed for taking the time to personally intervene in this matter.
The couple further told the president that their images have been published in the media without their consent, which is causing them considerable distress and embarrassment and asked the president to appeal to the media to respect their privacy and anonymity.
President Nasheed calls on the media not to reproduce photographs or video footage of the couple without their consent and to report the incident in a sensitive manner, the President’s Office said.
According to the office, the president ended the telephone conversation by ensuring the couple that his office will keep them updated on the ongoing investigation into this matter.
Maldives Ambassador in Geneva Iruthisham Adam also telephoned the couple Friday afternoon to offer the government’s "profound and heartfelt apologies."
Foul ‘weddings’ common practice in Vilu Reef : TEAM
| DATE: 2010-10-31 | Haveeru
MALE, October 31 (HNS) – Mocking tourist couples renewing their marriage vows is “common” at Vilu Reef Beach and Spa resort and the management is aware of the incidents, Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) said Saturday.
The association issued a statement condemning the action of Vilu Reef resort employees humiliating and mocking a Swiss couple renewing their marriage vows at the resort.
“The association, in its capacity as the organisation working for the rights of tourism industry employees, vehemently condemn the uncivilised and disgusting action,” the statement said.
The association stressed that the management should take the blame for the incident and noted that humiliating tourists in Maldives resorts is a serious issue faced by the industry. The association identified the reason as senior management officials addressing employees using foul language.
“... Those who should take the blame for this action are not only the employees involved in the action; rather these actions are a common practice in the resort and the management is aware of these practices,” the statement read.
“When we look into the bigger picture, using foul language while communicating with tourists are common in the Maldives tourism industry. This is a bad practice inherited from the ‘high to the low’ as senior management officials and resort owners address employees in this manner.”
The association further commended the media “for forcing [relevant authorities to find] a solution” to the problem by bringing the practice to the attention of the government and the public.
“TEAM believes that finding solutions via dialogue is the way to prevent such incidents in the future,” the statement added.
‘Celebrant’ in foul ‘wedding’ imprisoned for 6 years in 2006: Court
| DATE: 2010-10-31 | Haveeru
A court official said parole or clemency was not offered to Didi after he was sentenced in a drug-related case.
Police Thursday arrested Didi and 39-year-old Ali Shareef of Kanmatheege/Seenu atoll Hulhudhoo who led the ceremony where a Swiss couple was humiliated and mocked as “infidel” and “swine.” The Criminal Court extended their custody period to five days.
The two were charged for insulting Islam, disesteeming a tourist couple by using foul language and violating the religious unity by publicising the scene on internet. The custody was extended after considering the seriousness of the incident and the video presented by the police.
President Mohamed Nasheed personally apologised to the couple on Saturday and invited back to the Maldives at their convenience as his personal guests.
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