Raiymandhoo residents insistent on relocating to Male’ instead of an island

M. Raiymandhoo Council, on Tuesday, said majority of the island’s residents insist on relocating to Male’ area rather than another island from an atoll in order to reunite with their families already residing in the capital city.

During his ongoing tour of the atolls, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu visited Raiymandhoo and met with the local population on Monday. As he was preparing to depart from the island, he was surrounded by several islanders who seized the opportunity to voice their concerns. They highlighted the inability to access basic services on the island and earnestly pleaded with the President for relocation.

Speaking with Sun regarding the matter, Raiymandhoo councilor Mohamed Mihadh said the majority of Raiymandhoo residents, an island with a native population of some 243 people, wish to relocate to Male’ area, with only 20 percent against relocation.

“A total of 114 people signed the petition, which does not include the five council members. Many people were unable to sign due to old age and health conditions. Some people's jobs prevented them from signing as well,” he detailed.

“Hence, the petition would receive 75 percent signatures if it had included all,” he added.

Mihadh said the five councilors did not sign the petition as it was initiated by the residents of the island. He underscored that the residents did not include the signatures of some elderly individuals, as they are not able to execute their signatures by themselves. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the residents in all Raiymandhoo households wish to relocate to Male’ area.

When questioned why residents of Raiymandhoo, where just 87 people currently reside, were unwilling to relocate to another island within the atoll, Mihadh explained that most Raiymandhoo natives now live in Malé, and therefore, their families prefer to reunite with them there.

“We are targeting Male’ area, as the only way for everyone to stay together is in Male’ area [by relocating] and because we need to consider the best opportunities when making such an appeal,” he said.

He noted that during a meeting with Raiymandhoo residents on Monday, the President assured them that each household would be given a house in exchange for their current one, and individuals without housing would also be provided housing as well. Citing the President, Mihadh stated that the relocation process could begin within a year after the start of physical construction on the housing units.

An island in a poor state 

One of the concerns raised by Mihadh regarding the residents’ desire to relocate is the lack of educational opportunities on the island. He explained that although there are currently seven students on the island, including one in LKG, only Islam and Dhivehi have been taught at the island’s school over the past five years.

He noted that a satellite school initiative was launched on the island at the end of last month. However, he stressed that students have a huge gap in their education due to the continued failure to teach subjects other than Dhivehi and Islam in the past five years.

“Back then, a teacher from another neighboring island would visit on Friday or Saturday to teach other subjects to an extent,” he added.

Mihadh said the Fenaka office in Raiymandhoo operates with only one administrative staff member, while the island's magistrate court has just two employees, both serving as security personnel.

He also highlighted the challenges of travel, stating that residents must first travel to Dhiggaru to reach Malé, with the entire journey costing around MVR 1,250.

He pointed out that there is no one using the football stadium or volleyball court built in Raiymandhoo, pointing out that various administrations have made wasteful expenditures on such small islands.

“Raiymandhoo is truly one of the most difficult islands in the Maldives to live in,” he remarked.