Dhaalu Uhdhoo was expropriated from MP and businessman Ahmed Siyam Mohamed to be designated a picnic island for the people of Dhaalu Meedhoo, Adhadhu has learnt.
The 10-hectare agricultural island near Meedhoo was declared a picnic island during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's visit to Meedhoo this week during his tour of Dhaalu atoll.
The Local Government Ministry is now responsible for the island. Muizzu said the ministry would facilitate travel to Uhdhoo, and the details would be announced in the coming days.
The government claims that Uhdhoo was designated a picnic island after the agreement with Siyam ended.
However, some sources told Adhadhu that Uhdhoo was expropriated after the agreement deadline was extended.
"So if [Siyam] has to go to court, he will go to court. It is theft of property [by the government]," a source close to Siyam told Adhadhu.
The Meedhoo MP has not officially commented on the matter.
Widescale agricultural work is ongoing in Uhdho, and the island has many expensive properties.
An official who accompanied Muizzu in the tour of Dhaalu atoll told Adhadhu, on condition of anonymity, that Local Government Minister Adam Shareef was instructed by a senior government official to allow Siyam to remove only the barges and excavators from the island.
Adam Shareef could not be reached for comment.
Siyam endorsed Muizzu in the second round of the presidential election in 2023. Some of his close associates told Adhadhu that he spent about MVR 40 million on the campaign. But the relationship between Siyam and Muizzu appears to have deteriorated.
