People will only be moved from islands if they approve: President

The President’s Office has said that people will only be moved from one island to another if the majority of an island’s people consent to being transferred to another island.

The President’s Office said this in a press statement released on the implementation of the government’s policy on moving people of small islands to bigger islands.

The statement says that extensive efforts will be made to understand people’s opinions before such measures are implemented.

The government will also obtain expert assistance to conduct the necessary research prior to carrying out this policy.

This statement by the President’s Office comes following protests by the people of Rin’bidhoo last week, against being transferred to a bigger island.

Prior to his departure to Brazil to participate in the Rio Summit last June, the President said that future development efforts will be based on transferring people of small islands to bigger islands to facilitate better living standards.

The policy of moving people of small islands to bigger islands commenced during Gayoom’s presidency, during which people were transferred from several small islands. The execution of this policy has been halted for the past three years during Nasheed’s tenure as president.