Parliamentarians representing the five constituencies in Haa Alif atoll have met with Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, to share concerns regarding a resort in the atoll dismissing local employees.

The MPs that met with the newly appointed tourism minister on Sunday are; Hoarafushi constituency’s Ahmed Saleem, Baarah constituency’s Ahmed Abdulla, Ihavandhoo’s representative Mohamed Shifau, Kelaa’s Ibrahim Shareef and Dhihdhoo constituency’s Abdulla Waheed.

MP Saleem told RaajjeMV that the biggest concern shared at the meeting was regarding JA Manafaru Maldives’ continued dismissal of local employees.

Minister Mausoom is to have given them the assurance that the matter will be looked into.

While a number of employees have been facing dismissal and wage cuts due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the government is providing an income support allowance to these individuals.

In addition, the five inquired the minister on the various tourism development projects ongoing in the atoll; Haa Alif atoll, along with Haa Dhaal, are among the two least explored atolls in the country in terms of tourism.

While the incumbent administration has plans to boost tourism in such areas, authorities announced cuts to rent levied from islands and land in outer atolls for tourism development in July. This was announced shortly after the tourism ministry revealed plans to allocate more uninhabited islands for resort development and open bids at the end of the year and early next year.