WAKENAAM Island is the kind of place where you can sit quietly to enjoy watching the sunset and the dawning of a new day because of its location, tranquillity and ease of living.

It is one of those places you visit for the very first time and stay a bit longer than you should, but it is worth it, since it is such a beautiful island.

These were some of the sentiments expressed by many, including the Chairman of the Wakenaam Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Sheikh Ahmad, who has lived all his life on the island.

He is a farmer who came from humble beginnings and worked his way up as the NDC Chairman for the people, after he began advocating for his fellow farmers on the island.

Ahmad added that he came from a long line of farmers, his parents, and siblings. He was a teacher for some time before he transitioned into a farmer, since they have some farming lands on the island.

He decided to try his hand at farming, and as he became familiar with the challenges faced by farmers, he began to advocate at the regional level on their behalf.

Ahmad took on the role of NDC Chairman in 2018, and in his tenure, he has seen a lot of development on the island, one being the upgrading of the all-weather road, the main access road around the entire island.

He disclosed that they had a potable-water issue, but three months ago, a new well station was commissioned, and they are now benefiting from a reliable supply.

Ahmad added that power failures were a serious problem, too, but now they have a power station working at full capacity, so power outages are now a thing of the past on the island.

He revealed that they are seeking to move towards a solar farm for cheaper power-generation, and plans are on stream to make it a reality.

Ahmad reported that there are about 4,000 acres of farmlands on the island and today, farmers have more access to the lands than before and they can get loans to buy equipment to reduce time and labour for production.

He disclosed that Wakenaam has been transformed into a productive, self-sufficient place where they grow their own food and have their own meats and fish.

Ahmad told the Pepperpot Magazine that back in 2000 they were suffering in terms of drainage and irrigation, but the administration stepped in and they are benefiting from an upgrade of the drainage system, which is critical for farmers.

In addition, heavy-duty equipment was donated to the island for the general upkeep of drainage, which saw a good production for the past 10 years.

He reported that as a direct impact of climate change, they had moved their drainage network and although it is not at its full capacity, they plan to rectify that by next year.

In highlighting achievements on the island, Ahmad stated that they have about 12 kokers in Wakenaam and all the wooden doors have been upgraded and the one at Friendship is under construction presently.

Ahmad added that during his tenure, they have managed to successfully re-tool the NDC by buying their own tractor/trailer and utilised the subvention to maintain the drains and 50 wooden koker doors were replaced with steel.

He stated that they are hoping to acquire garbage- disposal equipment to reduce refuse-dumping on the island and in the waterways by the end of this year.

Ahmad told the Pepperpot Magazine that a chips, coconut and juice factory, which started in 2014 has been completed on the island and this investment will see the creation of jobs for residents and more money in the pockets of farmers.

He reported that the island will be outfitted with more street lights this year and the main access road will be resurfaced.

Ahmad stated that they have 18 CIIP workers attached to the NDC and they have been maintaining the parapets, drains, road shoulders and the cemetery on the island.

The NDC Chairman noted that 99 percent of the land on the island is privately owned and as a result of good cooperation between the government and the Ministry of Agriculture, they have received the necessary support needed in the agricultural sector to boost production.