HC Deb 16 April 1958 vol 586 cc163-4

Resettlement of the Inhabitants of Gan Island Proposals of die United Kingdom Government

Responsibility for the resettlement of Maldivian subjects displaced from their homes as the result of the granting of the Agreed Areas for the purposes specified rests in principle with the Maldivian Government.

To assist with the carrying out of the resettlement the United Kingdom Government have agreed at the request of the Maldivian Government to undertake the construction on Fedu of houses, Mosques, roads and walls, in so far as they do not already exist, to standards and numbers to be agreed by the designated representatives of the United Kingdom and Maldivian authorities in Addu Atoll as equivalent to those formerly enjoyed by the Gan Islanders. The United Kingdom authorities will similarly provide a permanent settlement on Maradu for the former inhabitants of Fedu displaced as a consequence of the resettlement of the Gan Islanders. Allocation of the new dwellings will be the responsibility of the Maldivian authorities.

It is understood that the demolition of the remaining houses on Gan will be resumed only after all former Gan Islanders now on Fedu and the former Fedu Islanders now on Maradu have been rehoused in accordance with the foregoing paragraph. Thereafter no household now on Gan will be required to move until permanent accommodation is ready for its reception on Fedu, but the United Kingdom authorities shall have the right to determine the order in which the remaining houses on Gan are demolished and the Maldivian authorities will ensure that, provided suitable homes are ready for their occupation on Fedu, the occupants of houses selected for demolition vacate them with all reasonable promptitude.

The United Kingdom Government will refund to the Maldivian Government the reasonable amounts paid or the value of the trees, etc., provided by the Maldivian Government to the resettled Gan and Fedu Islanders as justly adequate compensation for their non-moveable property other than houses.

The United Kingdom Government will provide towards the subsistence of the resettled Gan and Fedu Islanders for a period of six years a diminishing annual contribution to be agreed between local representatives of the two Governments. The contribution will take the form of foodstuffs so far as practicable.

The United Kingdom Government will refund to the Maldivian Government the agreed cost of the expenditure reasonably incurred by them in the supply of materials for such resettlement as may already have been completed.

Pending the presentation by the Maldivian Government of claims for refund under Articles 4 and 6 and proposals under Article 5 above the United Kingdom Government will, immediately on completion of this Agreement, make an advance payment of £10,000 to the Maldivian Government.