Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) has said that while there are 400 eligible voters in One & Only Reethi Rah resort alone, a polling station is not to be placed in the resort.

According to TEAM’s General Secretary Mauroof Zakir, over 500 Maldivians workers are employed at Reethi Rah, Madivaru Resort, and Summer Island Resort.

“There is no way for these 500 eligible voters to cast their votes. The closest island is also an hour away. How can those 500 employees be taken back and forth on voting day?” asked Mauroof.

The General Secretary said that approximately 2,000 employees work at the seven resorts in which polling stations are to be placed, and that a total of 18,700 employees work at resorts in general. Considering this, many employees will face obstructions when trying to vote.

Mauroof further said that the Elections Commission’s decision to reduce polling stations in resorts will undermine the voting rights of resort employees, going on to say that it is not acceptable that resort staff have to face the consequences of the difficulties faced in some resorts during previous ballots.

“Most resort owners are affiliated with some political party. We have seen some resort managements forcing their employees to vote for a certain candidate. However, this is not allowed. Employees do not want to cast their votes in this manner,” said Mauroof.