Local council calls for ‘immediate’ halt on Villa resort probes

The Council of South Ari Atoll Maamigili has called on authorities to halt their intrusive probes on the Villa Group resorts.

In a statement on Friday, after the government raided five Villa resorts, the council said the operation was conducted without thought to the negative impact it would have on the Maldives tourism industry, which it described as the goose that lays golden eggs.

The council noted that Maamigili residents will be affected by such conduct, as many of them are employed at the raided resorts.

It also condemned the targeted sanctions on the resorts, which are owned by Qasim Ibrahim, the leader of opposition Jumhoree Party (JP).

It said that hurting Qasim’s businesses also hurt the Maamigili residents.