2007-03-29
Some residents of Haa Alifu atoll Ihavandhoo, after complaining that the ADB funded power house project was being delayed, have stormed the Island Office and forcefully shut it down, Wednesday(28/03/2007). One of the residents who were leading the charge to close down the Office told Haveeru that they had decided to shut down the Office because the ADB funded project to provide electricity to the island had not been finished by the scheduled date. Previously, around fifty residents had met with the Island Chief, Adnan Abdulla, on the 1st of the month to discuss the delays and had even called up the Haa Alifu Atoll Chief also. Some of the residents said that the Atoll Chief had promised that service would be available by the 15th of the month. “When we talked to the Island Chief and Atoll Chief they assured us that electricity would be provided by the 15th of the month,” said one of the residents. “We told the Atoll Chief that if electricity was not provided by the date he set then we would close down the Island Office.”The Ihavandhoo Island Chief said yesterday that he would not comment to Haveeru regarding the incident and that he refused to believe that “Ihavandhoo residents” had closed down the Island Office.“I refuse to believe that the island residents would close down the Island Office,” the Island Chie said. “The residents did not go there.” He said that the people who were trying to keep the Office closed were some few residents who were trying to create problems on the island. Under the ADB project an engine has been installed on the island. According to reports, work on setting up the Panel Board was progressing. Those who had closed down the Island Office were requesting to talk to officials from the Energy Ministry. After closing down the Island Office, residents have set up tents outside the office and are keeping guard to ensure that no one is able to gain entry into the building.
Some residents of Haa Alifu atoll Ihavandhoo, after complaining that the ADB funded power house project was being delayed, have stormed the Island Office and forcefully shut it down, Wednesday(28/03/2007). One of the residents who were leading the charge to close down the Office told Haveeru that they had decided to shut down the Office because the ADB funded project to provide electricity to the island had not been finished by the scheduled date. Previously, around fifty residents had met with the Island Chief, Adnan Abdulla, on the 1st of the month to discuss the delays and had even called up the Haa Alifu Atoll Chief also. Some of the residents said that the Atoll Chief had promised that service would be available by the 15th of the month. “When we talked to the Island Chief and Atoll Chief they assured us that electricity would be provided by the 15th of the month,” said one of the residents. “We told the Atoll Chief that if electricity was not provided by the date he set then we would close down the Island Office.”The Ihavandhoo Island Chief said yesterday that he would not comment to Haveeru regarding the incident and that he refused to believe that “Ihavandhoo residents” had closed down the Island Office.“I refuse to believe that the island residents would close down the Island Office,” the Island Chie said. “The residents did not go there.” He said that the people who were trying to keep the Office closed were some few residents who were trying to create problems on the island. Under the ADB project an engine has been installed on the island. According to reports, work on setting up the Panel Board was progressing. Those who had closed down the Island Office were requesting to talk to officials from the Energy Ministry. After closing down the Island Office, residents have set up tents outside the office and are keeping guard to ensure that no one is able to gain entry into the building.
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