Ramadan looms as Malé North Harbor shutdown triggers backlash over broken gov’t pledges
With the fasting month of Ramadan fast approaching, boat owners have voiced deep concern, accusing the administration of inflicting serious hardship at a particularly critical time.
Goods to be transported to an island, being loaded onto a boat | Mihaaru
The government’s decision to shut down Malé North Harbor has triggered strong backlash from vessel owners, who say the move directly contradicts assurances given during prior consultations.
With the fasting month of Ramadan fast approaching, boat owners have voiced deep concern, accusing the administration of inflicting serious hardship at a particularly critical time.
While the government had earlier stated that redevelopment of the harbor would proceed in three separate phases to ensure services remained uninterrupted, the project has instead commenced with the complete closure of the harbor. Vessel owners shared their concerns with RaajjeTV, pointing to a clear disconnect between the commitments made by authorities and the actions now being taken.
According to vessel owners, the manner in which the project is being implemented bears no resemblance to the plans presented during official discussions.
They stressed that the government had explicitly pledged to phase the work in order to avoid disruptions to maritime operations, yet the total shutdown of the harbor has effectively done the opposite.
They further highlighted that the one to two months preceding Ramadan constitute the busiest period for transporting essential goods to islands across the country.
The closure has brought these operations to a standstill, a situation they warned could result in severe supply shortages and significant difficulties for residents in the atolls.
In addition to logistical concerns, vessel owners underscored the economic fallout of the closure, noting that it would cause substantial income losses for crew members and vessel operators who are already under financial pressure.
Amid these mounting challenges, vessel owners have called on the government to implement an immediate solution.
They urged authorities to arrange docking space for at least 50 vessels at an alternative location in Malé City, warning that failure to do so would leave the public facing serious difficulties during the upcoming month of Ramadan.
