Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Miladhoo issue: Miladhoo islanders vote to keep island office and court closed

Velidhoo New’s informant in Miladhu of Noonu Atoll has revealed that even after a vote taken among the people of Miladhoo whether to keep the island office and island court open or not, the people favored keeping them closed. It has been a week since angry Miladhoo islanders closed their island office and island court. Informant in Miladhoo reports that such a vote was taken to seek the view of the people as they would be a lot of difficulties by keeping the island office and island court closed.

A senior official of Atoll Ministry on the matter said that Ministry is in consultation with the Atoll Office and other concerned authorities to obtain an amicable solution.

“We are working closely with the Atoll Office on the issue, we have seek and find out what it is the people want, actual issue can only be solved once we find a way to solve the issue, as such we currently in consultations with concerned government agencies to solve the matter” said the official from Atolls Ministry.

The informant speaking to Velidhoo News last night said that people would still welcome a visit from the concerned authorities.

The islanders of Noonu Miladhoo surrounded and locked the island office and court last Sunday morning at 7:30. The reason behind this was, according to the islanders are that they have not been getting some essential services such as fresh water, sewage system, electricity problems and harbor.

An informant from Miladhoo said that he called the interim Atoll Chief Mohamed Ali at 4pm last Sunday and requested hi on behalf of all islanders to visit the island and to see the people’s participation in this.

“Mohamed Ali said that he was in Maafaru, watching a football match. He said that he is working as according to the instructions by the Atolls ministry and he could not come to the island even though the people request. Then I asked whether he is there in Maafaru, watching a foot ball match after ignoring the problems at our island because the Atolls Ministry instructed so? He said that he has already said that he was working under the instructions from Atolls Ministry. I told him that I would give this information to media and he said that he had no problem with it”

Noonu Miladhoo Island chief Mohamed Hassan speaking to Velidhoo News earlier said that there was no change in the situation of the island, and that the people have gone to their homes after locking the island office. He said that he has appealed the islanders to open the office, but the islanders have refused. He said that the atoll office also told him to open the office and to go on business as usual.

“What can I do to open the office? Every day, I am going to the people and I appeal to them to open the office. They rejected my appeal. Atoll office told me to open the office and to go on business as” Island Chief said.

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