Addu council urges govt to return Savaahili island

Addu City Council has called on the government to return Savaahili island to the council's jurisdiction, saying the decision to transfer control of the island is affecting development plans in the city.

The council made the call during a press conference on Wednesday at the Addu City Council Secretariat.

Savaahili, located near Feydhoo and Maradhoofeydhoo, was under the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council while preparations were under way to develop the island as an entertainment and recreation facility. Before the project could proceed, President Mohamed Muizzu transferred the island to central government control, stating that it was required for tourism development.

Following the change, official records classify Savaahili as a resort island under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Mayor Ali Nizar said the council had already announced the development opportunity, sold bidding documents and was preparing to issue the project when the island's jurisdiction was changed.

He said the council had not been consulted before the decision was made.

"After extensive effort, we reached the point of issuing announcements and getting everything ready, so this came as a complete surprise to us. We were essentially asleep in bed when it was gazetted that Savaahili's jurisdiction had been changed, that it was no longer a council asset, and that it had been taken by the central government. That was how we found out Savaahili had been detached from us," Nizar said.

Nizar said communication between state institutions should take place through formal channels and argued that councils should be consulted before decisions affecting their responsibilities are taken.

He also said the transfer of land to central government control without consultation had created uncertainty among investors in the Feydhoo Tourism Zone.

According to Nizar, projects in the zone are being financed by business owners from Addu without government funding or bank loans, and policy changes affecting land ownership could undermine those investments.

"Local business owners from Addu who met with me just a couple of days ago expressed that they feel completely uncertain. Considering the long-term efforts made and the risks being taken to build Addu's local economy, the current situation is extremely fragile. These people are taking massive risks. If there is no security for the risks they take, that becomes a huge problem," he said.

Nizar said the government's decision was affecting investment and development in Addu and urged state institutions to avoid actions that could discourage investors.

He added that he did not believe the central government would proceed with the planned development of Savaahili and said the council was prepared to undertake the project if the island remained under its jurisdiction.

Nizar also said he had received information indicating that the decision had been made following representations by certain Members of Parliament, although he did not identify them.

He said the council would continue to act within the law despite opposing the legislative changes that enabled the transfer.

"So I believe it is unacceptable to act in a way that blocks development. The way Savahili was taken by the government is completely unacceptable to us. We oppose it. We request that this decision be reviewed and that Savahili be returned to Addu City Council's jurisdiction," Nizar said.

"Addu's land belongs to the people of Addu. Neither I, nor the President, nor a Minister, nor a Member of Parliament needs to claim sole ownership over it. These places belong to the public. Therefore, Addu's assets must not be brought under the control of people sitting in Malé."