The people of Magoodhoo protested on Sunday after accusing the government of halting the airport development project launched on the island by the former government.
A large number of people took part in the protest, some were on foot while others were on motorcycles. They called for the resumption of project work and to stop discriminating between islands.
The protests began after the government announced the development of an airport in Nilandhoo, about seven kilometers from Magoodhoo, after halting the airport work on the island.
The people of Magoodhoo say they will continue to protest until work resumes. They protested near the airport site on Saturday and Friday night as well.
Magoodhoo council President Abdulla Waheed told Adhadhu that the airport work was stopped without consulting the council.
He said letters sent to the President's Office seeking clarification on the government's decision on the project did not receive any responses.
"I sent a letter two months ago to clarify my concerns about the airport. I sent a letter last week. I have not received a reply yet," he said.
However, the government and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) deny claims that work on the airport has stopped.
But the island council and the people confirmed that no work is currently ongoing.
The Nilandhoo airport project was also handed over to MTCC. The government and MTCC said the project was part of a policy to build an airport within 30 minutes of every inhabited island, resort and industrial island.
It takes less than 30 minutes to travel from Nilandhoo to Magoodhoo.
The airport being developed in Magoodhoo, for MVR 230 million, includes a hotel for jet crews and other facilities.
