Hoarafushi Residents Protest in Black Over Suspension of Council President

Residents of H.A. Hoarafushi staged a protest on Tuesday dressed in black, following the suspension of Council President Mohamed Waheed by the Local Government Authority (LGA). The LGA suspended Waheed for three months without pay and allowances after reviewing eight complaints against the council, which highlighted seven violations. Protesters, including councilors and residents, held posters demanding Waheed's reinstatement. The violations included financial irregularities during events like the Northern Atolls’ Women’s Volleyball Tournament and Eid al-Adha 1446 celebrations, procurement issues, and failure to comply with the Right to Information Act. The LGA stated that Waheed, as council president, bore primary responsibility for these violations. Efforts to contact Hoarafushi councilors for comment were unsuccessful.