Historical records of Ukulhas indicates that there were no periods experienced by the Island without an Island Administration and it is said that there was always a functioning secretariat existing in the island, established by the Maldivian government. However, in the early days, the Island’s administration was operated from the home owned by the head of the Island and that time no place was set out as a government’s property.
The first establishment of a formal island secretariat In Ukulhas was done during the time of head of the Island, Late Waleed Khalid and the secretariat was built on a premise registered under his name, known as Noovilaage’. The secretariat built on the Noovilaage’s premises was an old hut and this hut’s roof was made by thatch, the wall was made by Palm and Pandan leaves. During that time the Head of the Island (Katheeb) was Waleed Khalid and his Assistant (Kuda Katheeb) was Mohamed Fauzee. Khalid Ali, the father of Waleed Khalid, was the Imam of the Mosque.
After the initial formal establishment of a secretariat at Noovilaage’s premises, until 20th June 1986, the office of Island administration was operated at the Madhurasaage’, which was located by the side of Javaahirumaage’, projecting towards the Chanbeyleemagu and Vashaagamu of the Island. The office at the Madharusaage’ had a small sitting room (Fendaa) and a small wall which was built as an identification landmark in between the Javaahirugaage’ and Madharusaage’. The walls of Madharusaage were made from limestone which was plastered by lime (uva) and the ground was also plastered by lime (uva). The whole structure was well ventilated open spaces in the wall place at adequate distances and frames of doors were also fixed without doors. The total funding for the whole Madharusaage project was provided by the Islanders from their expenses without any government assistance. As a result of collective community support effort, the Madharusaage was said to be one of the most beautiful buildings which was famed as the ‘Reethi Madharusaa’ (beautiful school) due to its aesthetic beauty.
While the secretariat was on operation at the Madharusaage’, simultaneously the Island Court also operated in the same building and administrative works of both institutions were carried on the same tables. That time furnitures such as chairs and the tables which were used by the secretariat was provided to the Ukulhas Court by the government. The only furniture owned by the secretariat was a wardrobe. During that time the Island court was headed by Justice Ali Adam, Aa. Thoddoo who also known as Gaazee Alimanik and at the same period Moosa Naeem, Noovilaage’, Aa. Ukulhas worked as an Administrative Officer. Soon after the resignation of Moosa Naeem, Dhiyana Ali, Reynige, Aa. Ukulhas was assigned as an administrative officer to the Island Court on 20th January 1983.
The foundation of the Island’s office laid by Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Umar Zahir on 01st February 1982 and consisted of a room, a sitting room, and a bathroom with well water.
The new building of the Island secretariat was inaugurated by Minister of Atolls Hon. Abdulla Hameed on 20th June 1986 at 10:30 pm.
At the initial commencement of works at the new building, the administration was executed by a Head of administration (Katheeb), an Asst. Head of administration (Kuda Katheeb), a Secretary (Kaathib), supporting staff, and a Health worker. After the year 1992 a new position was added as a Walkie-talkie operator. On 26th February 2011, the name of the Ukulhas office was converted to the Secretariat of the Ukulhas Council and all its staff were taken over by the newly structured administration under the newly adopted Civil Service Act of Maldives. After then, significant changes had been brought to the administrative structure and with the amendments brought to the Civil Service structure the number of staff at the Island administration was increased too. Based on recent structural changes brought to the civil service act and within the adoption of the decentralization act, three Councilors, one Director, one Asst. Director, eight administrative staff and two support staff are now working at the Secretariat of Ukulhas Council. Technology and Communication: Walkie-talkie Services Communication via technology was established in Ukulhas during the time of president Ibrahim Nasir, who ruled the country between 11th November 1968 to 11th November 1975. Soon after the introduction of walkie-talkie services throughout the country, Ukulhas also introduced the service along with the Atoll capital Island Mahibadhoo and other inhabited Islands in Ari Atoll. At that time there was a walkie-talkie house, specialized for walkie-talkie services, located at the westside, at the end of Chanbeylee Magu, Ukulhas. At present, the place is known as Gunbaru Beach and is the area of the Ukulhas Health Centre. The walkie-talkie house was made like a traditional hut-like structure. The columns were made by wood, the roof was made by palm leaves, and the walls were made by thatches. There was an Indian Almond (Midhili gas) near the walkie-talkie house which was assigned to be used by walkie-talkie holders whenever they need to climb up in the event of unstable signals. Special timings such as 700 hrs, 2000 hrs. to 2100 hrs. were set out to operate walkie-talkie and during this period, the assigned walkie-talkie holder or head of Island administration would come out to the beach, closer to the lagoon, and start to send official messages and reports to the Atoll office. It is said that the messages which were received during the night would be written on the beach and later on it was recorded to a logbook. Further information such as the number of vessels leaving the Island, the number of vessels arriving on the Island, report of the number of fishes caught in a day were shared with the atoll office on daily basis. Report of the number of fishes caught in a day, which was recorded and shared with the atoll office, was known as the report of the total number of fishes caught by small and big vessels operated on the Island. Installation of Portable Radio Transceivers (Walkie-talkie set Behettun) Portable Radio Transceivers (walkie-talkie set) was first installed in the Island offices from 1989 onwards as a replacement of one hand walkie-talkie system. After the installation of Radio Transceivers services, it was much easier to carry out the communications between the atoll and Island office, and issues encountered due to unstable signals were resolved making it more efficient and convenient, especially to communicate with the fishing vessels which were on fishing grounds far away from the atoll. Telephone Services The telephone installation project was started at the Island office on 10th December 1989 and the telephone service was started at the Island office on 1st March 1990 and the first phone call as an official inauguration was made on 1st March 1990 at 9:35 am to Mahibadhoo which was known at that time as the capital Island of the Aa. Atoll. At that time the provided phone number was 3470006 and telephone services were also provided to the public based on the official guideline. Those who need to make phone calls would gather at the Island office and stand in a queue for their turn after noting down their name and details on a record book. When their turn to make the call came, they would call the number and at the same time, the automated counter would start to count the duration of the call. Soon after hanging up the phone, they would have to make payment for their calls to the Island administration. Telephone Booth Installation The telephone booth was installed on the Island on 1st July 1997 to provide private call services to the locals and on 08th October 2001 a second telephone booth was also installed due to the high demand. The telephone booth services provided an opportunity for the Islanders to improve and sustain the relationship between their loved ones who were far away from the Island. Facsimile Services Facsimile services were introduced by the Island office in the year 2010 by providing efficient services to send messages, letters, reports, to different offices and institutions, and at the same time, it helped the Island office to receive important messages and documents on a timely manner without any delay. Introduction of typewriter and Computer System The typewriter was firstly used in the year 1995 and it helped the administration to write the letters, messages, reports, etc to the government and other offices in an easily readable manner. The first computer system was established on 3rd June 2000 and it the first computer brought and used on the Island.
