02nd April 07 ,Monday
The Senior Island Chief of Ihavandhoo Island says the people of the island who had blocked and kept the Island Office from being opened say they will not leave till a team from the Ministry of Energy and Water arrive in Ihavandhoo and give a date when electricity will be provided to the island. “I am not stating any personal opinion. These are expressions of the community. I have met the people and talked with them today. The people say they will not cease their control over the Island Office till a team from the Ministry of Energy and Water arrive in the island and set a target date for provision of electricity to the island”.
In further detail, Senior Island Chief explained that it was targeted to provide electricity to Ihavandhoo on 25th October 2006. But the people are expressing criticism about the progress of work by Namira Agas Hayles Consortium, the companies to which the electrification work had been contracted. He also said that electricity is one of the most basic utilities the people need. The company contracted is making very slow progress with their work. If a trivial supply is missing, they may take one to two months to procure it. It is with great eagerness and need that people awaited electrification. The delay had worn out the community’s patience, which had resulted in them closing down the Island Office.
Since the Police had been sent to Ihavandhoo, when Maldives Police Services were contacted to clarify the situation in the island, Corporal Ahmed Shiyam informed that the situation in the island had not worsened at all, but the people still had the Island Office blocked, as before. Island Chief of Ihavandhoo Mr. Adhnaan Abdulla said he had been threatened and warned by some people of the island. “About 50-60 people surrounded me and kept saying, they will kill me, chop me to pieces and such threats”. He also said that some people were calling the Senior Island Chief, Island Chief, and the Assistant Island Chief to resign from their posts.
In the interview with Haama, the Island Chief explained that the Police were trying to negotiate with the people by listening diligently to their views and being respectful of their concerns.
Haama was informed that the electrification project is implemented by a joint venture company called “Namira Agas Halyles Consortium”, targeted by agreement to be finished by 25th October 2006. But the work of the project had still not been completed. People gathered near the Island Office and the Island Court of Justice last Monday and expressed dissatisfaction about this. When the Island Chief arrived to open the Island Office on Tuesday morning, people had gathered there, restricting him from opening the Office by blocking it. The Ministry of Energy and Water could not be reached today for any comments on the issue.
The Senior Island Chief of Ihavandhoo Island says the people of the island who had blocked and kept the Island Office from being opened say they will not leave till a team from the Ministry of Energy and Water arrive in Ihavandhoo and give a date when electricity will be provided to the island. “I am not stating any personal opinion. These are expressions of the community. I have met the people and talked with them today. The people say they will not cease their control over the Island Office till a team from the Ministry of Energy and Water arrive in the island and set a target date for provision of electricity to the island”.
In further detail, Senior Island Chief explained that it was targeted to provide electricity to Ihavandhoo on 25th October 2006. But the people are expressing criticism about the progress of work by Namira Agas Hayles Consortium, the companies to which the electrification work had been contracted. He also said that electricity is one of the most basic utilities the people need. The company contracted is making very slow progress with their work. If a trivial supply is missing, they may take one to two months to procure it. It is with great eagerness and need that people awaited electrification. The delay had worn out the community’s patience, which had resulted in them closing down the Island Office.
Since the Police had been sent to Ihavandhoo, when Maldives Police Services were contacted to clarify the situation in the island, Corporal Ahmed Shiyam informed that the situation in the island had not worsened at all, but the people still had the Island Office blocked, as before. Island Chief of Ihavandhoo Mr. Adhnaan Abdulla said he had been threatened and warned by some people of the island. “About 50-60 people surrounded me and kept saying, they will kill me, chop me to pieces and such threats”. He also said that some people were calling the Senior Island Chief, Island Chief, and the Assistant Island Chief to resign from their posts.
In the interview with Haama, the Island Chief explained that the Police were trying to negotiate with the people by listening diligently to their views and being respectful of their concerns.
Haama was informed that the electrification project is implemented by a joint venture company called “Namira Agas Halyles Consortium”, targeted by agreement to be finished by 25th October 2006. But the work of the project had still not been completed. People gathered near the Island Office and the Island Court of Justice last Monday and expressed dissatisfaction about this. When the Island Chief arrived to open the Island Office on Tuesday morning, people had gathered there, restricting him from opening the Office by blocking it. The Ministry of Energy and Water could not be reached today for any comments on the issue.
Comments