Waves of Complaints from M. Mulah Against Gov't: 'I am nearly 65 years old, and I have never seen a Minister or a President who lies this much!'

Although M. Mulaku has historically been a prominent fishing hub, with its economy heavily reliant on the industry, the island's fishermen are currently facing profound disillusionment and are falling into a severe financial abyss.

The residents of the island expressed their grievances during RaajjeTV’s "Haalu Kihineh?" (How is the Situation?) program. Veteran fishermen, who have dedicated over 45 years to the industry, noted that there is a vast disparity between the promises made by the Fisheries Minister during his visit on the last Fishermen's Day and the actual reality on the ground.

At the time, the Minister assured the residents that an ice plant would be established and operational within a few days. He further pledged to expedite the completion of the ice plant in the neighboring island of Veyvah. However, months have passed since then, and none of these promises have materialized, leaving the fishermen without access to ice to this day.

There is also significant public resentment and criticism regarding the signing ceremony of this major project. Residents allege that although the President himself visited the island to sign the agreement for the Mulaku ice plant, the government awarded the contract to a party with no experience or capacity for such large-scale industrial projects—a party they claim is a small-scale businessman primarily involved in selling stationery.

One fisherman from the island stated that even during the official Fishermen's Day ceremony, residents expressed concern that awarding the project to such a company would mean Mulaku would never receive an ice plant. He remarked that current circumstances have proven those concerns valid.

"The Minister's dishonesty has now reached an extreme level. I am nearly 65 years old, and in my memory, I have never seen a Minister or a President who lies to this extent. The President stated that the asphalt laying in Mulah would be completed within 45 days. The most concerning part was the President signing the ice plant project in front of the citizens. The contract was given to someone who literally sells books and pencils. We pointed out on Fishermen's Day that an ice plant would not come to Mulah through such a party. And that remains the case today,"

A concerned fisherman from M. Mulah.

Furthermore, three Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the Mulaku Atoll waters have been disconnected for a long period. Despite direct messages to the Fisheries Ministry and numerous inquiries to relevant government agencies, the fishermen have received no satisfactory response or assurance regarding their replacement. Due to the lack of government assistance, the fishermen took the initiative to coordinate with yellowfin tuna vessels to transport the disconnected buoys to Male' for repairs.

This perceived negligence has left Mulaku's fishermen unable to fish in nearby waters. They are now forced to travel hundreds of miles at great expense to FADs near Vilufushi, Guraidhoo, or in L. Atoll. Residents believe that both the leadership and the President have exceeded all bounds of honesty.

Regarding the island's socio-economic situation, the cost of living has become unaffordable, and rising electricity bills are depleting the residents' finances. Residents noted that bills which previously averaged 600 or 700 Rufiyaa for a single air conditioner have skyrocketed to shocking amounts after installing a second unit. With many households receiving bills exceeding 4,000 Rufiyaa, complaints to the local powerhouse are met with dismissive responses, claiming the charges are based solely on actual usage.

"The electricity bills are so high. We used to have one air conditioner, and the bill was 600 or 700 Rufiyaa. Now it’s 4,000 Rufiyaa. Even after a second AC, it shouldn't reach that high. We took the bills to the powerhouse, and they just said it's because we use it. But we use the same appliances as before. We haven't added anything else. There are only two people in our house, yet the bill is this high," 

A fisherman from M. Mulah.

Residents claim that even when the number of occupants and electronic usage remains unchanged, the billing appears inconsistent and arbitrary. Additionally, food prices have surged significantly. With the price of a single egg reaching three Rufiyaa, many find it nearly impossible to sustain their families on their meager incomes, describing daily life as a struggle.

Local businesses are also on the verge of collapse. Sales in island shops have plummeted; shops that once generated 10,000 Rufiyaa in daily sales now see less than 5,000 Rufiyaa. Business owners who import goods face significant hurdles due to the shortage of US Dollars from banks and the black market rate rising to 20.50 Rufiyaa per dollar. Amidst these economic challenges, the state of local healthcare is even more alarming. Basic medicines are increasingly unavailable, and pharmacy staff report uncertainty as the pharmaceutical industry undergoes organizational changes. Residents feel neglected and deprived of essential services, with no clear solutions in sight.