Baa atoll council express concern over resort development project

Baa atoll council has expressed concern regarding the Maldives government’s decision to seek a contractor to develop a tourist resort in the atoll under a cross subsidy policy, despite the council’s decision against it.

In a declaration issued by the council last week, it was stated that the council members had a meeting with the Ministry of Tourism on May 30. During the meeting, the council unanimously urged the government to adhere to its resolution issued on January 13, 2022, which called for refraining from engaging in a cross-subsidy resort development project. The council urged not to develop an additional resort in the already- tourism heavy atoll.

The council stated that its decision was based on the consensus of the local community in the atoll, and one of their primary concerns was the absence of a local island for picnic trips.

The council expressed its concerns regarding the decision of the Economic Council to lease Baa Atoll's Hibalhidhoo for resort development, despite the council's advice against it.

In its resolution issued in 2022, the council called on the Maldives government to transfer ownership of resorts, lagoons, and islands to the local authority.

According to the Vice President of the atoll council, Abdulla Shujau, the atoll, which is home to 20,000 residents, does not have a single island designated for picnic trips. Despite having 50 uninhabited islands in the atoll, approximately four of them remain undeveloped without any ongoing projects.

“We strongly condemn Economic Council’s decision to lease Baa atoll Hibalhidhoo to Laamu atoll Kadhdhoo Airport developer under a cross-subsidy tourist resort development project which violates the Decentralization Act, and goes against this council’s decision.”

“We urge the Maldives President and the government to lease an island from Laamu atoll, where the airport is being developed, for tourist resort development.”

The council, in its statement said that the decision was made to restrict exploitation of the atoll’s natural resources, and added that such projects did not benefit the locals in the atoll.