Maldives - Island Life

People are woken up by the call for prayer, Fathis Namaad, before dawn between 4.30 and 5.00 am. After prayer the fishermen get ready for the day, collect baitfish from the nearby reef and start their trip before sunrise.

Women prepare breakfast, sweep the yards and roads and get the children ready for school. Weavers, carpenters, toddy collectors and staff at the island office commence their work. The majority of fishing boats, mas dhonis, will return before sunset and old people and children gather at the beach to see the day’s catch. If a dhoni brings back more than 1000 fish, a flag is hoisted on the boat. 

The fish is then distributed with half to the owner of the boat and half for the crew. The fish is taken cut, cleaned and taken home for cooking. 

In the evening, many fishermen gather at the captain’s house resting in a big wooden swing and jolis talking about the day. Women process the fish, prepare dinner and relax while smoking a gudugudaa. Children play football or other games, swim in the sea and people gather in houses to watch satellite TV or videos or go for walks round the island. 

Island Administration 
The 26 geographical atolls in the Maldives are divided into 20 administrative ‘atolls’. These administrative atolls may consist of more than one or half of a geographical atoll depending on their size. The letters of the Dhivehi alphabet are used to name these administrative atolls. 

A 'Katheeb' or the Island Chief is in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the island and its development. The 'Katheeb'  reports to the 'Atoll Chief' who is in charge of all the activities of all the islands in an atoll. The Atoll Chief resides in the atoll’s capital island where matters related to the atoll are directed from the Atoll Office. The government appoints both the Island Chief and the Atoll Chief.