Emme Gulhey Akram
By: Munshid Mohamed
Laamu Gan is just as another island in Maldives that has a huge problem with waste disposal. The waste created is left on the streets and disposed of through burning. Gamu Development Society (GDS) with LECReD grant is trying to change that by compiling a proper waste management plan. Ahmed Akram from GDS takes Emmenge along to his island.
Akram after finishing his A’ levels is waiting to start his degree. He is currently at his home in L.Gan working with GDS and helping out with his family business.
Mohamed Shiyam president of L.Gan council tours the proposed GDS compost training facility which is being built under grant aid from UNDP Tourism Adaptation Program. This is one of the projects Akram is involved with and hopes this will play a pivotal role in educating the community on proper waste disposal.
Workers clearing the area around the facility to as they start work on the boundary fence. Once completed Akram hopes L.Gan will become a centre to train communities from nearby atolls.
Akram who played for the junior national football teams is also very involved with helping out the island football team that just won the zone championship. He is discussing the plans with GDS sponsored coach Pakeer Ali on how the team will compete in the regional finals.
Waste is dumped on corners in the island and openly burnt. With the opening of local islands for tourism, the waste on the streets and beaches has had adverse effects on the booming guest house industry.
Piles of plastic bottles collected near the beach. These bottles end up in the sea resulting in a floating dump that is huge around the island and ends up on the beaches of other islands as well.
Gan has one of the best beaches in the country. Most parts of the 7 mile stretch beach is littered with bottles.
Some of the hotels have started up cleaning the beach frequented by tourist but keeping it clean is no easy task. Akram helps out with the cleaning when he is visiting his home.
The Natural fresh water pond called Paree Fengandu ( Fairy Waters) in Gan is visited by locals as well as tourists. Akram hopes that the area will be protected and preserved for future generations. He talks of the need for a mechanism to collect the waste left by visitors, protecting the flora and fauna in the area.
A baby needle fish swims along the reef during low tide. Tonight Akram's family is going in search of reef fish.
The whole family along with his grandmother of over 60 years old walks along the reef during the low tide to hunt for fish. This has been a tradition among his family members as well as many residents of Gan.
The two hour search ends with about twenty fish which would be barbecued later at night.