Today will be remembered as “Black Friday” in the history of Hulhumeedhoo. Hundreds of people, men and women, were marching towards the channel that separates Handufushi from Hulhudhoo to accompany and support the protesters, especially staffs who were dismissed unfairly, while the wicked management of Handufushi perpetrated a group of twenty young men from Hulhudhoo to disrupt the serenity of the protest. And they disrupted the protest. Certainly, their evil actions gained even bigger support for the protesters.

Twenty feet behind Star Force personnel kept observing the scene as they were officially invited to monitor the situation for the organizers foresight awaiting fears. Albeit, police did nothing to prevent the peaceful protesters calling for immediate halt on violation of labour rights. “Star force came here to protect Jabir and Yacht Tours at the cost of all these people” chanted a woman.

Ms. Aishath Dhiye, Seltan, S.Hulhudhoo was hit by a member of the mob. They felt absolutely no mercy before beating against their own people for the sake of a thing or two they get from Handufushi management. Mr. Zahid called on Abdul Sameeu and said, “No one can take this island from Yacht Tours, just wait and watch we will win the case”.

Indeed, Handhufushi management did a great job today. Their repeated immorality helped the protesters gain support and unify against their cause. View Photos

Southern regional commander, sub inspector Abdulla Navaaz met with the Crime Prevention Committees (CPC) of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo at Hulhumeedhoo Police Services yesterday to find out a way to end the ongoing serial uprising against Yacht Tours led management at Herathera. Abdulla Navaaz stressed his personal concern over conducting the strike at night. He felt it was “odd” to go for strike at mid night.

“We have absolutely no interest in this problem,” Navaaz tried to justify their position. He added, “We are sent here to discuss the issue with you to peacefully solve the problem as Yacht Tours has asked the government to help stop the serial protest”. Sub inspector Navaaz told that they would not intervene to disrupt any protest unless you break law and order. As such, police shall not try to stop current uprising against Yacht Tours before you commit a crime.

Navaaz told that he spoke to Handufushi management to find out a solution. He explained that Handufushi management confirmed to him that they would settle off all the payments due for Hulhumeedhoo suppliers and individuals within ten days. We asked the management also to stop unfair dismissal of Hulhumeedhoo staffs in particular.

Members of the CPCs unanimously suggested the police to go to the crux of the problem firstly. They highlighted the repetition of unfair dismissals, especially Hulhumeedhoo staffs, immoral behavior of the management and free entry of alcohol into Hulhumeedhoo and its consumption in the hotel.

Members collectively believed that a company like Yacht Tours cannot manage a hotel like Herathera and given the opportunity, the same problems will occur. “As decentralization is due to take effect, and Addu and Fuvahmulah being the populous region in the country, other than Male’, paying off Hulhumeedhoo suppliers and protesters salary would be an immediate relief” a member assured to the police. He added that Herathera being the first resort open to tourism in the Atoll, benefits from it must be enjoyed equally. Further, he said $2.3 million paid as rent monthly to MTDC does not necessarily mean Addu people are enjoying the benefit of tourism.

On the other hand, members were concerned about the government intervention into the dispute is violating the majority’s interests. When Yacht Tours call on the government to stop protests, all the government authorities get activated, but voices of those terminated unfairly are given a cold-shoulder.

The wicked and unfair dismissal of Hulhumeedhoo staffs working at Herathera Island Resort has started backfiring the current management heavily and deadly. Yesterday itself, two very prominent and vital senior staffs were terminated contradictory to the staff termination policy stipulated in legislation. Ms. Nafiza and Mr. Nahid both being supervisors of Accounts Department, were told their dismissal were based on meeting the shortfall of revenue due to global economic crisis. Today we recieved reports that another key figure, Mr. Shaafy Ali has been dismissed unfairly without giving any prior notice. The serial “redundancy” as they call, strictly targeted to Hulhumeedhoo staffs, has opened many doors to raise voices of concern and distress against the current management in Addu.

Since yesterday, people were calm for they believed things might turn up in their way. Albeit, the immoral management of Herathera are so ruthless that they never think about the awaiting consequences before committing to take wrong decision on sensitive issues. Ms. Nafiza had been working in payables department since the development phase of the hotel. She was very loyal to Yacht Tours despite continued verbal harassment against her own island and people by the General Manager Mr. Ibrahim Rasheed (Roanu Kudeyge Ibbe). Similar are the cases with the two gentle men terminated irrationally. Shaafy had been looking after the Store since Herathera development stage, where as Mr. Nahid, the Receivables in charge was second to none in Accounts Department.

The management of Herathera then took even a sinful decision. They utilized a guy from Hulhudhoo to bolster the leading campaigners of the protest. He, high on alcohol, called to Mr. Azleen (Azky) the vocalist and composer of Ilyas Labeeb's supporters songs, flooded Azky with words of vulgar, and later destroyed the windows of Azky’s home. However, Azky was leading the protest since yesterday, but the protests then be carried out with enormous muscles and sheer resistance by those staffs of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo who were being terminated unfairly day by day. According to reliable sources, twelve staffs are terminated now and some 47 staffs are yet to be dismissed unfairly. The protesters highloighted the campaign against the Yacht Tours management in Herathera might take a different route and they may have to start an international wide campaign against Yacht Tours. “Our president H.E Mr. Mohamed Nasheed taught the formula of success” they say, “Stand united for you fight against violation of rights, and get hold of the success before fear”. They say the current protest will continue for twelve months; however, they did not mention the frequency and timing of the protests ahead.

Dr. Ibrahim Didi honoured launching of Ilyas Labeeb’s campaign songs composed by famous local artist Mr. Azleen (Azky) at the heart of Hulhumeedhoo (Aarithangado), last night. Hundreds of Ilyas’ supporters visited the opening ceremony. Dr. Didi expressed his view regarding the party’s candidate and addressed to various issues faced by the people. He assured that the government is ready to listen to the people concern, and mentioned that the road opened yesterday was a mere example.

Present Island Chief Mr. Ahmed Shafeeu talked to the audience regarding the changing political environment of the country and subsequent adaptation of it. He affirmed to the people that the island would blossom both economically and socially under the administration of MDP coalition government. In addition, he thanked Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr. Ibrahim Didi on behalf of Hulhumeedhoo people for fulfilling much-awaited dreams of farmers by opening up the gateway to connect mainland to farmland (Kan’dofishi). Mr. Ahmed Azleem talked to the audience on youth’s behalf that support Ilays Labeeb and his manifesto. He stressed mainly on the importance of selecting the right candidate for the job. However, he once again highlighted the issue of alcohol smuggling in to Hulhumeedhoo and it’s over consumption within the Herathera staff since Yacht Tours took management of the hotel.

Dr. Ibrahim Didi officially opened the road leading to Kan’dofishi yestderday. The road is very mush associated with the hope of farmers, bikers and picnic goers. The opening ceremony was honoured by high profile delegation of Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and state minister for Transport. Hundreds of people from Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo cheered the ceremony.

Speaking to the audience Dr. Ibrahim Didi confirmed that he would stand side by side with the people of Hulhumeedhoo as special envoy from the President Mr. Mohamed Nasheed. “His excellancy president Mohamed Nasheed has asked me specifically to listen to the concerns of Hulhumeedhoo people as the islands are completely separate from mainland Addu” stated Dr. Didi. Then he opened floor for questions and answers.

Answering to one of the questions posed by the crowd Dr. Ibrahim Didi said "Problems are enormous and solutions are within our reach, but you must believe that thirty years of ignorance by the Maumoon's administration towards these two islands have destroyed the trust in government". Didi also added not everything can be achieved overnight and that people must give time to the government. View Photos

The current dispute between Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and J Resorts Handhufushi (Herathera) is intensifying, while staffs, local suppliers and non-governmental organizations are consistently fighting over the mismanagement of the hotel and its subsequent failure to establish corporate social responsibility among Addu community.

Since MTDC cancelled its contract with J Resorts last week, hundreds of Hulhumeedhoo people started gathering near the hotel every day. They are demanding for the immediate surrender of the hotel. In addition, they carry banners boycotting Handhufushi management. They include “Pay Addu Suppliers”, “We cannot accept our islands submerge into bottles of alcohol” and “Protect the rights of tourists; they are out of proper food and water, and they don’t get access to internet and cable TV”. Protesters say that they are determined to raise their concern over the deteriorating situation in the hotel. However, few people criticize the ongoing protest, as they believe the strike is politically motivated.

Indeed, current dispute in Handhufushi has hit the faces of MDP led coalition government severely. MDP’s focal point, Mr. Ibrahim Zubair, based at Hulhumeedhoo informed, “The president Mr. Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) called upon me to request the organizers to stop the protest”. Ibrahim Zubair who is also a member of Hulhudhoo Island Development Committee also stated that the president had confirmed to him that he would solve the dispute in such a way that rights of neither party gets violated. This clearly indicates that the president is taking the side of Mr. Jabir who is one of his close associates even after party system came into effect. However, our current president made our souls stronger to confront unjust and corruption though.

On the other hand, the minister of tourism Dr. Ali Sawad is working nonstop to dissuade the MTDC board members and major shareholders to come to a compromise to settle the matter in favour of Yacht Tours. Now it is very important to know that the Attorney General, Tourism Minister and Yacht Tours Chairman are from Jumhooree Party and that they all are tied up by one rope, Mr. Gasim Ibrahim who unethically controls a large proportion of shares in MTDC. Read. At this stage, could justice be made to all stakeholders of MTDC and the people of Addu by the current administration? If not people of Addu says, “They will start campaigning to oust the president Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, the way they fled the dictator from Hulhumeedhoo”.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.

Following the recent staff uprising in Handhufushi calling for the release of three months service charges and three months’ salary for foreign staffs, shocked all the stakeholders of the public limited company and the nation. According to reliable sources within Handhufushi few of the Maldivian staffs still haven’t received their salary for the month of December 2008, whilst desperate and distracted forty foreign nationals have submitted their resignation letter to the HR yesterday.

A petition boycotting the mismanagement and subsequent social unrest within Handhufushi is underway in Addu Atoll and Male’. Mr. Jaufar Shah, brave and determined, became the victim of the current petition that kicked off last week with the help of Mohamed Azleen and Ahmed Azleem. His dismissal is unfair according to the labour law and the criteria for resort staff termination policy.

Within last Thursday, Mr. Jaufar Shah was able to obtain approximately 150 signatures from Hulhudhoo, apart from those signed inside Handhufushi. He assigned two men from Hulhudhoo for the job, who made a deal with an executive staff at Handhufushi. These two people reportedly have sold the petition to him for a bottle of ‘Bacardi’ and Mrf500. However, the determination to pursue the same petition strengthened further with this wicked attempt by Handhufushi Management to cover up their wrong doings.

Many sinful and socially indecent activities that are persistent in Handhufushi have reached to a worrying stage. Drinks are made available to everyone in the hotel, be it Maldivian or Foreigner. Young girls from all over the country are brought to the hotel for partying. “Senior Management and executives are all ways on high and committing to all sinful activities. Do you think a resort can function like this?” questioned a frustrated and infuriated staff. On New Year night, the managing director of the hotel whilst on high on drinks shouted, “All the old bloody bastards from Hulhumeedhoo will be terminated”.

He should be ashamed to say a word against to the people of Addu and Hulhumeedhoo in particular. Local retailers have stopped supplying goods to Handhufushi for not making any payment since last October 2008. Shortage of food and vegetable within the hotel are the another issue. “I took lemon from home every day for a week to make special food for my guests. Nothing is available within resort. There is no one to look after what is happening in the resort. Even we don’t get proper food now” a staff explained the situation. Fishermen, farmers, other food suppliers are longing to receive money for the goods they have supplied, yet Mr. Jabir dares to shout at our people. Opening of the tourist resort here has brought melancholy to the hearts and minds to the people of Addu.

For these reasons, entire Addu is calling for a strike to protect and prevent tourism in Addu. With Yautch Tours, we travelled far ahead towards economic downturn and wider room for social problems. We believe this need to be stopped immediately. The government has proclaimed better living conditions and ‘fair ruling’ to the people. Therefore, we also ask the government to reconsider its decision to lease Herathera to Yautch Tours, who have failed to pay three months rent to the government though.

Leaflets are flying all over the streets of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo this morning towards the opening of School for the new academic year. Many parents are dissatisfied with the present management of Seenu Atoll School. They say the management did not pay due care to their children in the past two years, which according to them, has resulted in many students failing in their examinations and going astray. “Discipline of students are second to none than those inmates at ‘Maafushi Jail’”, stated a parent.

The management of the school seems to have tried very hard to give a justification to the frustrated parents and new comers. They have put a banner across the face of the School that reads “Welcome to a new year of learning”, a very impressive, forward-looking and accommodating statement. However, the statement just beneath the above reads “Towards Holistic Learning”, which triggered everyone’s heart and mind repulsively. One would certainly wonder how the management of the school has planned to execute its teaching policies.

Nonetheless, all the leaflets that were thrown on the streets of Hulhumeedhoo show grief, disappointment and anger. One of that reads, “We cannot accept Head Master and Assistant Principal taking orders from office secretary”. Another read “We cannot accept a Head Master who speaks colleagues, parents and students in street language”. They accused the school for not hosting appropriate extra curriculum activities in the past three years, as responsible for many students dropping their studies.

However, we welcome all the students and teachers of the school to a new year of learning and teaching. We believe the management of the school will consider the message by the parents duly and favorably. View Photos

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) declared to settle off their 24 months controversial due as rent for lease of approximately 666,667 square feet of Hulhudhoo land hired during the Herethere development phase from 2006-2008. Members of the MTDC board Mr. Shaahid Ali and Thorig talking to the Island Development Committee (IDC) last night affirmed the approval for release of payment to Hulhudhoo.

The quest for the payment triggered as Heavy Load (HV) demanded a piece of land from Hulhudhoo last month. The people of Hulhudhoo and IDC were determined not to provide an inch from Hulhudhoo land. Mr. Thorig and Shaahid Ali, who chaired the meeting with the president of IDC Mr. Ahmed Musthafa were astonished as the members of IDC unanimously defied letting land to HL before committing to settle previously hired land by MTDC. “We sacrificed our source of living in the high hope of a better future for our people” Mr. Hassan Saeed justified IDCs stand. He added, “Hulhudhoo harbour was severely damaged by a tug boat during unloading construction materials of all sorts and lots of waste was dumped in Hulhudhoo land hired by MTDC, yet we remained calm for the anticipated prosperous future”. Despite, things went contradictory to the average Adduan’s expectation.

However, papers relating to the lease of 666,667 square feet of land to MTDC were unfolded before the members of MTDC board. They claimed having never seen any of them before. Negligence by the previous administration of Hulhudhoo Office is largely to blame for inadequate negotiations with MTDC despite IDC pressure in almost all the meeting. On the other hand, fault of MTDC was inevitable either. They did not formally sign lease contract with Hulhudhoo Office. Verbal arrangement by Mr. Solih and Mohamed Jameel then, became the divisive quest for sanction of such a huge amount of money for the current MTDC board, who are accountable for their shareholders. However, Mr. Shaahid Ali and Thorig went to the board again with all the available papers drafted on different occasion in the last three years, which resulted in the approval of sanction of the payment.

Finally, IDC and people gathered near the office last night collectively agreed to lease 70,800 square feet of land to HL for the construction of the channel between Hulhudhoo and Herathera. HL has put forward all required papers to the IDC relating to the area they require its usage and rent arrangement for it. This left no room for conflict of interest within the IDC who immediately approved the request.

It is really a good time for Hulhudhooans and all Adduans at large to support MTDC once again to erect its status in the tourism industry in the country. We know the current management is incapable of running the 4km long hotel, which is regarded as the apple of Adduans eye.