Tag: island

Projects providing island-level protection from disasters to be implemented this year

Three projects aimed at providing protection from natural disasters are to be implemented this year, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has said.

A one-year partnership agreement has been signed between NDMC and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), and that efforts are underway to implement the projects in 2013, local media reported.

A statement by NDMC said that the three projects include a priority implementation partnership project, a project on establishing a national framework on protection from disasters, and a project on providing assistance in drafting the law on disaster-related matters.

Local media reported that priority implementation partnership project involves island-level development plans to reduce the damage caused by disasters.

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Increasing density of resort development threatens key tourism appeal, warns former tourism minister

The cabinet has decided to increase the development density of resort islands from 20 percent to 30 percent, in a move tourism authorities of the former government have claimed will impact a key appeal of the Maldives’ destination.

In a statement, cabinet said ministers noted that “opportunities for commercial expansion were limited due to unavailability of land area to develop tourist facilities on leased-out spaces.”

“Members also agreed that, raising the land area limit for construction of tourist facilities, to meet market demand, would largely contribute to the prosperity of the island,” the statement read.

Former tourism minister Dr Mariyam Zulfa said “one of the resort owners behind the [February 7] coup” had pressured her to change the density regulations.

“I privately consulted foreign [resort] investors and the advice I got was not to change this, because the Maldives’ ‘islandness’, a key product feature, would be lost,” she told Minivan News.

“Thirty percent is a huge amount of land to developed as a built up area, and islandness is what makes the Maldives competitive,” she said.

Mohamed Nasheed’s government had debated and provisionally approved increasing the development density to 25 percent, Dr Zulfa said, “but that was before the industry feedback that this was not something to play around with.”

“I can categorically say this is something [resort tycoon and Jumhoree Party (JP) leader] Mr Gasim Ibrahim wanted for a long time. If you do an eyeball inspection of his properties already they more than 20 percent,” Dr Zulfa alleged. “I knew this would happen the moment the regime changed. It doesn’t surprise me.”

Secretary General of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), ‘Sim’ Mohamed Ibrahim, said the density increase would “allow some resorts to develop more facilities, entertainment and staff amenities.”

“It will give resort developers more flexibility,” he said. “We don’t think it will have an impact [on the competitiveness of the destination].”

Dr Zulfa has previously contended that pressure from several government-allied resort owners had led the new government to declare that 25 year resort island lease extensions could be paid in installments rather than upfront, a decision she claimed took US$135 million out of the budget overnight.

In March, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) said it had anticipated receiving a total of Rf375 million (US$24 million) for lease extensions, however due the government’s recent decision to accept resort island lease extension payments in installments, the  income received dropped to Rf23 million (US$1.5 million). The government has meanwhile said it has a budget deficit of US$155 million.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb was not responding to calls at time of press.

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Shangri-La to open Maldives’ first full size golf course

The Shangri-La Villingili resort in Addu Atoll is due to open the first full-sized golf course in the Maldives on March 27.

The nine hole course sits on seven-and-a-half hectares of previously undeveloped land at the southern end of Villingili Island.

Most holes par three and average 123.4 yards in length, and are set amongst the island’s natural veggetation including of palms, pandanus and other tropical plants. The course includes a clubhouse, refreshment bar and a pro shop.

“It’s a recreational course, not a professional course,” explained Shangri-La’s Assistant Communications Manager, Cristina Acenas. “It is accessible to beginners but advanced golfers will also enjoy it.”

Challenged about the environmental impact of a nine hole golf course on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the resort was quick to respond.

“The golf course uses salt tolerant Paspalum grass for its greens which thrives on available grey water and natural environmental factors existing in the Maldives,” Acenas explained. “Seashore Paspalum is used on golf courses worldwide and is said be the most environment-friendly among the types of grass used for golf courses.”

“A salt tolerant plant growing in sandy substrate is not going to need many nutrients, so it’s not so bad,” suggested a marine biologist consulted by Minivan News.

“The main worry would be using well water to irrigate the course, which would impact the island’s freshwater lens and other vegetation on the island,” she said.

Acenas explained that treated grey water from the island’s sewage treatment plant would be pumped into an irrigation dam constructed on site, “so no fresh water or fresh desalinated water is used to irrigate the greens, minimising waste and the carbon footprint associated with operating a full-sized golf course.”

A second concern raised by the marine biologist was the potential for run-off to wash fertiliser into the ocean, disrupting the nutrient balance of delicate reef ecosystems.

“They do have to be careful that nutrients don’t leech into reef,” she observed. “An increase in nutrients can great algal overgrowth that outcompetes corals and impacts reefs. It’s good they’re using a low nutrient plant, but they will need to keep a check on it.”

Acenas said that fertilisers used to maintain the course would be organic and used sparingly.

“It has been determined that the selected Paspalum turf cultivar will thrive well in the conditions present at Villingili. The Paspalum Grass through proper cultural practices should be sustained at healthy levels with minimal use of organic fertilisers and chemicals, and has a very high tolerance to salinity, more so than most weeds. This is a much healthier approach when considering the environment surrounding the course,” she told Minivan News.

The site will be subject to a biannual terrestrial monitoring by environmental consultants to assess fauna, flora and the impact of the course on their habitat, Acenas noted.

The golf course is located near a turtle nesting habitat (August – October), “and turtles can be seen coming to the surface all year round on this side of the island, especially on the ocean side from holes six to nine,” she added.

The marine biologist Minivan News spoke to observed that a golf course was probably a better nesting environment for turtles than a built up area because the course would lack light sources, which can cause females to become disorientated after laying eggs and crawl inland, rather than back out to sea.

Approval for the course was granted by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Housing and Environment, following following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The Maldivian government in March 2010 signed a contract with Dutch Docklands of the Netherlands to develop a floating golf course and hotel in the Maldives.

Then Deputy Minister for Environment, Mohamed Shareef, said the floating golf centres would be “much better and more environmentally friendly than reclaiming land.”

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Comment: Urgent appeal from a deeply concerned community

The Velidhoo Future Foundation (VFF) was founded on March 2010 to develop the island of Velidhoo in Noonu Atoll and for the progression of its youth, whilst looking at environmental sustainability for the community, an issue which has emerged as vital the past few years.

Since its establishment, the VFF has developed many initiatives, and as the name indicates, they were all effectively undertaken for the future of the island of Velidhoo. This is done working with the society at grass root level, encouraging participation from everyone, be it local, national or international. Many successful projects have been jointly executed. The advantages of the combination of knowledge and skills of international volunteers together with local expertise and enthusiasm were realised and used to the benefit of the community in Velidhoo.

We are proud of our contribution to the development of our island, disseminating good practice and experience outside our own community too. Our aim is to make Velidhoo an example to be emulated in the field of effective household waste disposal, clean and usable beaches and enlightened, progressive citizens. We were well on our way of doing this, and the co-operation from local businesses, resorts, international volunteers, and particularly from the Velidhoo residents themselves has been over-whelming, very encouraging and definite steps in the right direction.

However, very sadly, the recent developments in both our country and our local community have abruptly halted our ongoing projects. Our community has now become deeply divided. Where before there was unity, solidarity and a real sense of working together for the good of all, now there is hate, suspicion and discontentment.

We are extremely worried that our common religion will be used as a means of sowing hate. We are already facing threats (like SMS and speeches) towards the European volunteers in our region, who are accused of preaching Christianity and therefore “should be thrown out of the country”. These accusations have no base and are completely unjustified, as the volunteers have done nothing but genuinely care for communities without religion ever coming in the context.

An ongoing cooperation with the State of Limburg (Belgium) has put been on hold. We were supposed to have hosted them in February. This project would have given the area a huge impetus for progress and growth, and ultimately it is the communities who will lose out and suffer from this delay.

We are extremely worried that the many NGOs and international organisations in Maldives would be considered “unwanted foreigners”. We desperately need international aid and projects for development. The influence of our volunteers has been positive and far-reaching – in education, training, tourism, environmental issues, marine conservation, even giving local enterprises more business through their activities. We are concerned that these partners will not be wanted.

So far, because of the good nature of these international bodies and volunteers, they have kept the true Maldivian situation to themselves, and tourism has not been affected much yet. But if this situation is allowed to continue, then the repercussions would be horrific. The main body of international tourists would start pulling out. Why would western societies wish to patronise a country where foreigners are generally regarded with hostility and malign ill-will and tolerated through gritted teeth only because of the dollars they bring in?

Furthermore, having had discussions with our members and people in different areas and regions, we can have only one conclusion: “what has happened” was a coup d’état – independent bodies, various local communities and organisations and the international press have confirmed it.

Being a grass roots organisation, I speak not only for my organisation, but also for most of the common Maldivian citizens: A new government should be decided by the ballot box. I am sure you will agree that this is the only way to resolve the current unrest and feelings of discontent and frustration which is draining our nation and giving us a negative image globally.

No one will be able to dispute the outcome of the ballot box.

Prompt elections will bring a solution which ensures a free, democratic and prosperous future for youth, people and our nation. Only fresh elections – for both Parliament and the President’s position can bring a peaceful solution for our now deeply divided nation.

Ibrahim ‘Shoppe’ Mohamed is the Chairperson of the Velidhoo Future Foundation.

All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]

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New7Wonders “a moneymaking exercise”: Telegraph

A campaign to find the world’s most popular natural wonders, promoted as a contribution to environmental protection, has been attacked as little more than a moneymaking exercise, reports the UK’s Telegraph newspaper.

“There have been accusations that several of the more obscure places on the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’ list, announced earlier this month, owe their ranking less to their beauty than to the readiness of tourism or marketing organisations to stump up cash – including taxpayers’ money – in their support.

“Tourism authorities in the Maldives and Indonesia, which both withdrew their backing for the project earlier this year, have cited concerns over voting methods and “hidden” costs, while Unesco – the agency of the United Nations dedicated to protecting natural and man-made sites – has repeatedly distanced itself from the project.

“A provisional list of seven wonders – including little-known islands in South Korea and the Philippines – was published on November 11. People had been encouraged to vote for free online or by paid text message to help compile it from a shortlist of 28. That shortlist had itself been whittled down from an original list of more than 400 submitted since the launch of the project in 2007 by the Zurich-based New7Wonders Foundation (N7W).

“Each of the 28 finalists had to be represented by an ‘official supporting committee (OSC)’, which was charged an initial US$199 ‘administration fee’. The government-funded Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) – which submitted the islands as a candidate – claims that organisers later demanded up to $350,000 in ‘sponsorship fees’ and hundreds of thousands more to organise an extravagant “world tour” event. The cost to the country’s economy would have been more than S$500,000.”

Read more

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‘Market Harbour’ project amended, bids re-open

The Economic Development Ministry has announced that the ‘Market Harbour’ project, designed to develop island harbours, has been reopened bidding, Haveeru News reports.

The project was first announced on March 24, 2011. The Ministry has since amended the proposal to suit amendments proposed by island councils.

The ‘Market Harbour’ projects intends harbours to be developed along regional, atoll and local standards. The projects will take effect in Dhaal atoll Kuda Huvadhoo, Gaaf Dhaal atoll Gahdhoo, Thinadhoo and Ihavandhoo, Haa Dhaal atoll Kulhudhufushi, Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi, Meemu atoll Mulah and Raa Dhuvaafaru.

Haveeru News reports that project bidding is open to local and international companies. The report adds that facilities such as warehouses, banks, and guesthouses will be available.


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Behind-the-scenes at COP15: Oscar-winning film company to release documentary on Maldives’ efforts

An Oscar and Emmy-winning film production company based in San Franscisco, Actual Films, has produced a 90 minute documentary charting the Maldives’ efforts to raise awareness of climate change in the lead up to the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.

The Maldivian government was approached by Actual Films in early 2009 seeking behind-the-scenes access to President Mohamed Nasheed and cabinet ministers.

After two years, US$1.5 million, 140 hours of footage and a soundtrack by Radiohead, the company has produced a 90 minute documentary ‘The Island President’, to be released in cinemas later this year.

The film was entirely funded by the US Ford Foundation, American Corporation for Public Broadcasting, MacArthur Foundation, Atlantic Foundation and the Sundance Institute.

The Maldivian government insists it had no editorial input into the film, which was left completely to Actual Films and Emmy-winning Director Jon Shenk.

“It felt a bit weird for the first two hours but after that the ministers seemed to forget the cameras were there,” said a senior government source.

“It is unprecedented for a documentary maker to be given round-the-clock access to a head of state, probably for very good reason.”

The source, who was shown a pre-release version of the film, described it as “somewhat like a real-life episode of the West Wing”; giving a unique perspective on the high-level machinations of world powers that would make it of interest to politics buffs as well as environmental activists, “and it will probably do wonders for tourism.”

“Everyone who’s seen it so far says it’s made them proud to be Maldivian,” the source said, adding that it was the first time a film about the Maldives was to be shown at international film festivals.

The film will be released in US cinemas later this year and aired in the Maldives in early 2012.

A trailer for the film can be seem at http://theislandpresident.com/

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Local Council Elections 2011: Preliminary results by island and party

The DRP has won 502 seats, 91 island councils and 10 atoll councils, according to preliminary results of the local council elections.

MDP won 375 seats, 61 island councils, four atoll councils and 88 percent of the city council seats.

Independents took 160 seats, 15 island councils and one atoll council (Dhaalu).

The Elections Commission of the Maldives has said that the commission will announce the official result of the Local Council Elections within two weeks.

In the meantime, preliminary results are subject to change and media is accountable for its own reporting of seats won and lost by specific candidates, the EC stated.

”Any media that circulates information that a seat was won by a specific candidate according to an unverified result, shall do so of its own responsibility,” said the commission.

The commission said will be updating its results website as soon as sheets are received at the main office in Male’.

The following breakdown of results by island is sourced from the Elections Commission’s website. Full breakdown and names of candidates are available on the commission’s website (Dhivehi).

HAA ALIFU ATOLL COUNCILS

HOARAFUSHI – 2 MDP

IHAVANDHU – 2 MDP

BAARAH – 2 DRP

DHIDHU – 1 MDP and 1 DRP

KELA – 2 DRP

HAA ALIFU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

THURAAKUNU – 2 MDP 1 IND

ULIGAMU -5 IND

MOLHADHU – 5 MDP

HOARAFUSHI – 6 MDP and 1 IND

IHAVANDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

KELA – 4 DRP 1 MDP

VASHAFARU – 5 DRP

DHIDHU – 5 MDP 2 DRP

FILADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

MAARANDHU – 5 IND

THAKANDHU – 5 MDP

UTHEEMU – 5 DRP

MURAIDHU – 4 MDP 1 ADH

BAARAH – 3 DRP 2 MDP

HAA DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

HANIMAADHOO – 1 MDP 1DRP

NOLHIVARAM – 2 DRP

VAIKARADHU – 1 MDP 1 IND

KULHUDHUFUSHI NORTH – 2 MDP

KULHUDHUFUSHI SOUTH – 2 MDP

HAA DHAALU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

HANIMADHU – 3 MDP 2 DRP

FINEY – 4 DRP 1 MDP

NAVAIDHU – 5 DRP

NOLHIVARANFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

NELLAIDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

NOLHIVARAM – 3 MDP 1 ADH 1 IND

KURIMBI – 4 RP 1 MDP

NEYKURENDHU – 3 MDP 2 DRP

VAIKARADHU – 5 MDP

MAKUNUDHU – 2 ADH 3 MDP

SHAVIYANI ATOLL AREA

KANDITHEEMU – 2 DRP

MILANDHU – 2 MDP

KOMANDU – 2 DRP

FUNADHU – 2 DRP

SHAVIYANI ATOLL ISLAND COUNCIL

KANDITHEEMU – 5 DRP

NOOMARA – 5 MDP

GOIDHU – 5 DRP

FEYDHU – 2 MDP 3 DRP

FEEVAK – 4 DRP 1 IND

BILEIFAHI – 3 DRP 2 ADH

FOAKAIDHU – 5 DRP

NARUDHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

MAROSHI – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 ADH

LHAIMAGU – 5 MDP

KOMANDU – 5 MDP

MAAUNGUDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

FUNADHU – 5 DRP

MILANDHU – 5 MDP

NOONU ATOLL AREA

KENDHIKULHUDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

MANADHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

VELIDHU – 2 DRP

NOONU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

HENBADHU – 4 IND 1 DRP

KENDHIKULHUDHU – 3 DMP 2 DRP

MAALHENDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

KUDAFAREE – 5 MDP

LANDHU – 3 IND 1 ADH 1 MDP

MAAFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

LHOHI – 5 DRP

MILADHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

MAGUDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

MANADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

HOLHUDHU – 5 DRP

FODHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

VELIDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

RAA ATOLL AREA

ALIFUSHI – 2 DRP

UNGUFAARU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

DHUVAFARU – 1 DRP 1 ADH

INGURAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

MADUVVARI – 2 DRP

RAA ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

ALIFUSHI – 3 DRP 2 MDP

VAADHU – 5 DRP

RAGETHEEMU – 3 DRP 1 ADH 1 MDP

ANGOLHITHEEMU – 2 MDP 2 DRP 1 IND

HULHUDHUFFAARU – 5 MDP

UNGUFAARU – 5 DRP

DHUVAAFARU – 4 DRP 2 IND 1 MDP

MAAKURATHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

RASMADHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

INNAMADHU – 3 MDP 2 IND

MADUVVARI – 3 MDP 1 IND 1 DRP

INGURAIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

MEEDHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

FAINU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

KINOLHAHU – 4 ADH 1 IND

BAA ATOLL AREA

THULHAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

EYDHAFUSHI – 2 DRP

KENDHU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

KUDARIKILU – 3 DRP 2 IND

KAMADHU – 5 MDP

KENDHU – 2 MDP 2 IND 1 DRP

KIHAADHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

DHONFANU – 3 DRP 2 IND

DHARAVANDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

MAALHOS – 3 MDP 1 DRP 1 IND

EYDHAFUSHI – 5 DRP

THULHAIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

HITHAADHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

FULHADHU – 5 DRP

FEHENDHU – 5 DRP

GOIDHU – 5 MDP

LHAVIYANI ATOLL AREA

HINNAVARU – 1 JUMHOORY PARTY 1 MDP

NAIFARU – 2 DRP

KURENDHU – 2 MDP

HINNAVARU – 5 MDP 2 DRP

NAIFARU – 7 DRP

KURENDHU – 5 MDP

OLHUVELIFUSHI – 2 ADH 1 MDP 2 IND

FELIVARU – TO BE ANNOUNCED

KAAFU ATOLL AREA COUNCILS

KAASHIDHU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

THULUSDHU – 2 DRP

GURAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

KAAFU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

KAASHIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

GAAFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

DHIFFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

THULUSDHOO – 4 DRP

HURAA – 5 DRP

HINMAFUSHI – 5 DRP

GULHI – 5 DRP

MAAFUSHI – 5 MDP

GURAIDHU – 5 DRP

ARI ATOLL UTHURUBURI COUNCIL [NORTH ARI ATOLL]

MATHIVERI AREA – 2 MDP

THODDU AREA – 2 MDP

ARI ATOLL UTHURUBURI ISLANDS COUNCIL [NORTH ARI ATOLL]

THODDU – 5 DRP 1 MDP

RASDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

UKULHAS – 5 MDP

MATHIVERI – 2 MDP 3 DRP

FERIDHU – 5 DRP

MAALHOS – 5 MDP

HIMANDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

ALIF DHAALU ATOLL COUNCILS [SOUTH ARI ATOLL]

MAAMIGILI – 2 JP

MAHIBADHU – 1 DRP 1 JP

A.DH ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL [SOUTH ARI ATOLL]

HANYAMEEDHU – 4 IND 1 JP

OMADHU – 5 IND

KUMBURUDHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MAHIBADHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

MANDHU – 5 DRP

DHANGETHI – 2 JP 2 DRP 1 IND

DHIGURAH – 5 DRP

DHIDHU – 4 IND 1 JP

FENFUSHI – 3 JP 2 MDP

MAAMIGILI – 5 JP

VAAVU ATOLL COUNCIL

FELIDHU – 2 DRP

KEYODHU – 2 DRP

VAAVU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

FULIDHU – 5 MDP

THINADHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

FELIDHU – 5 DRP

KEYODHU – 5 DRP

RAKEEDHU – 5 MDP

MEEMU ATOLL COUNCILS

DHIGGARU – 2 DRP

MULAKU – 1 DRP

MEEMU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

RAIMANDHU – 5 DRP

VEYVASHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MULAKU – 5 DRP

MULEE – 5 DRP

NAALAAFUSHI – 5 DRP

KOLHUFUSHI – 4 DRP 1 IND

DHIGGARU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MADUVVARU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

FAAFU ATOLL COUNCIL

BILEIDHU – 1 MDP 1 IND

NILNADHU – 1 DRP 1 IND

FAAFU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

FEEALI – 5 IND

BILEIDHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MAGUDHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

DHARANBUDHU – 2 DRP 2 MDP 1 IND

NILNADHU – 3 DRP 1 IND 1 MDP

DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

MEEDHU 1 MDP 1 IND

KUDAHUVADHU – 2 IND

DHAALU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

MEEDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

BANDIDHU – 5 IND

RINBUDHU – 3 MDP 2 IND

HULHUDHELI – 5 DRP

VAANEE – 5 IND

MAAENBUDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

KUDAHUVADHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

THAA ATOLL COUNCIL

VILUFUSHI – 1 MDP 1 IND

THIMARAFUSHI – 2 DRP

KINBIDHU – 2 DRP

THAA ATOLL ISLAND COUNCIL

BURUNI – 3 MDP 2 IND

VILUFUSHI – 5 MDP

MADIFUSHI – 3 DRP 2 MDP

DHIYAMIGILI – 3 MDP 2 IND

GURAIDHU – 5 DRP

KANDUDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VANDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

HIRILANDHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

GAADHIFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 IND

THIMARAFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VEYMANDU – 2 DRP 2 IND 1 ADH

KINBIDHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

OMADHU – 5 IND

LAAMU ATOLL COUNCIL

ISDHOO – 2 DRP

GAN – 2 DRP

FONADHU – 2 DRP

MAAVAH – 1 DRP 1 MDP

LAAMU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

ISDHOO – 4 MDP 1 DRP

DHANBIDHU – 5 DRP

MAABAIDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

MUNDU – 4 DRP 1 IND

GAN – 5 DRP 2 MDP

MAAVAH – 5 DRP

FONADHU – 5 DRP

GAADHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

MAAMENDHU – 5 DRP

HITHADHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

KUNAHANDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL COUNCIL

VILLINGILI – 1 DRP 1 MDP

DHAANDHU – 2 DRP

GEMANAFUSHI – 2 DRP

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCILS

KOLAMAAFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VILLINGILI – 6 DRP 1 MDP

MAAMENDHU – 5 DRP

NILNADHU – 5 DRP

DHAANDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

DHEVVADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

KONDEY – 5 IND

GEMANAFUSHI – 5 DRP

KANDUHULHUDHU – 5 DRP

GAAFU DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

THINADHU – 2 MDP

MADAVELI – 2 DRP

FARESMATHODA – 2 DRP

GADHU – 2 DRP

GAAFU DHAALU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

THINADHU – 7 MDP

MADAVELI – 5 DRP

HOADEDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

NADELLA – 4 DRP 1 IND

GADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

RATHAFANDHU – 2 MDP 2 DRP 1IND

VAADHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

FIYORI – 3 DRP 1 IND 1 MDP

FARESMATHODA – 5 DRP

GNAVIYANI ATOLL COUNCIL

FUVAMULAK NORTH AREA – 1 MDP 1 DRP

FUVAMULAK MID AREA – 1 DRP 1 MDP

FUVAMULAK SOUTH AREA – 2 DRP

FUVAMULAK ISLAND COUNCILS

DHANDIMAGU – 3 DRP

DHIGUWAADU – 3 MDP

HOADHADU – 3 MDP

MAADHADU – 3 MDP

MISKIMAGU – 3 DRP 1 MDP

FUNAADU – 2 MDP 1 DRP

MALEGAN – 2 DRP 1 MDP

DHOONDIGAN – 3 DRP

ADDU ATOLL COUNCILS

HULHUMEEDHOO AREA – MDP

FEYDHOO AREA – MDP

MARADHU AREA – MDP

HITHADHU NORTH – MDP

HITHADHU MID – MDP

HITHADHU SOUTH – MDP

MALE’

ALL THE AREAS OF MALE’ EXCEPT FOR GALOLHU SOUTH AND VILIMAAFANNU WAS WON BY MDP.

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Kurumba management evacuates guests as strike talks deadlock

An ongoing strike at Kurumba Maldives resort near Male’ has prompted management to move the island’s guests to other resorts run by the Universal Group, while other visitors have chosen to leave the country.

More than 150 Maldivian and expatriate staff are on strike after complaining of poor staff facilities, low wages, unfair distribution of service charges and discrimination between local and foreign staff.

Assistant Human Resources Manager Ibrahim Hassan told Minivan News that no staff were currently working at the resort, as “almost all” were now involved in the strike action. Nearly 250 guests had been relocated to other resorts or had cut short their holidays and left the country, he said.

“At the moment [the strikers] are very calm. They are standing in front of the Human Resources [office] and not coming out of the staff area,” Ibrahim said.

“Yesterday it became serious when they came out of the staff area and threatened senior management. Some senior managers have [subsequently] left the island.”

A third meeting between staff and management yesterday failed to resolve the deadlock, he noted. No staff member had yet been dismissed, he added.

Police have meanwhile arrived on the island to monitor the situation. Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said a police team was sent after police received reports that management were being threatened.

A staff member on strike told Minivan News that the workers decided to continue the strike after management “did not give us an adequate answer” by the workers’ deadline of 4:00pm yesterday.

“Nobody is on duty and guests have complained about the poor services, so the management decided to transfer all the guests to other resorts,” he said.

Striking staff complain to senior managers

During the last meeting resort management had given the staff a written reply to their demands, promising the construction of a new staff accommodation block in September and the formation of a staff committee representing various departments.

“We have four main concerns: wages, service charge [payments], food and accommodation,” he said. “For food and accommodation they gave a pleasant answer. But regarding wages and the service charge, they could not give an adequate answer – they said they were revising the salaries but did not know when they could increase them.”

When staff said the response was inadequate, management replied they were unable to alter the decision, he said.

“That response caused outrage among staff and some of the senior management officials were forced to leave the island,’’ he added. “Police came to the island to control the situation.’’

The staff claimed they would strike until management fulfilled their demands, he said.

Sim Mohamed Ibrahim from the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) described the industrial action at Kurumba as “a clear reflection of what little protection is provided to investors and businesses under the present laws pertaining to the conduct of business in the country.”

“The reality of the situation is that an investment of millions of dollars can be crippled andheld at ransom within a few hours by its own employees, whose grievances may or may not be real,” Sim said, adding that this situation had recently occurred in several resorts.

“The situation in Kurumba is a case in point. On Sunday August 22 the resort occupancy [percentage] was in the 80’s. Towards evening that day occupancy had fallen to less than 20% percent,” Sim said. “Tourists, tour operators and senior management have been too terrified to remain in the resort, and today the resort is empty.”

“There should be no ground for any party to reduce visitors and businesses in this country to a state of fear and terror, whoever may be at fault. The government must provide tourists and investors with adequate protection,” Sim said.

The Universal-run resort near Male’ is one of the oldest private resort islands in the Maldives, reopening as a five-star luxury resort in 2004 following renovation.

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