17th MARCH 2007

Friends of Maldives (FOM) are concerned about the lack of respect shown by Billionaire Philip Green's birthday celebrations in the Maldives

The birthday party of Phillip Green in the Maldives has brought about fierce criticism in the Maldives .

The islanders who are 100% Muslim are complaining about a lack of respect following the building of a large Granite Buddha in Landa Giraavaru Island Resort.   The country has strict laws prohibiting any form of religious icon or symbol from coming into the country.  Maldivians are claiming that double standards are operating for the elite tourist like Green where the normal traveller coming into the Maldives is checked for any religious icons or symbols which are confiscated.  Small Buddhas and the like are either broken by Customs officials on entry into the country or stored and returned to the traveller at the end of their holiday.  Maldivians workers being  forced to build the Buddha statue has raised further controversy.

Despite record tourism figures to the Maldives the Friends of Maldives remain concerned about the lack of trickledown wealth to average Maldivian Islanders.  It remains illegal for Madivians to own or run hotels or guesthouses outside of the capital Male' and therefore the enormous income created by the likes of Mr Green and other tourists stay with the leading resort businessmen rather than benefiting the average Maldivian. 

According to Tourism Concern: "Tourism is the major industry in the Maldives with the potential to stop poverty and improve local living conditions. But this is not happening ... Nearly half of the local population are living on just over $1 a day - which according to international standards means they are living in poverty….. Maldivian people are suffering - fresh fruit and vegetables go directly to tourist islands, bypassing local people - the UN recently found over 30% of Maldivian children under 5 suffering from malnutrition - a situation as acute as sub-Saharan Africa."

Source: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/campaigns/the-maldives.html

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Friends of Maldives

E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org
W: www.friendsofmaldives.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

Friends of Maldives – www.friendsofmaldives.org

Friends of Maldives (FOM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Maldives . Based in the UK and established in 2003.