President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday morning met with members of the Fuvahmulah City Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) members, and held extensive discussions about the city's socioeconomic progress and tactics for development on upcoming projects. The meeting took place at the Fuvahmulah City Council Secretariat.
The councillors noted how the government had addressed most of the issues raised in the last meeting with the President and expressed gratitude for the government's prompt response. At the meeting, which was also attended by Vice President Faisal Naseem, the council members conveyed the needs and concerns of the populace and discussed measures to expedite ongoing and planned socioeconomic development initiatives.
The councillors requested the President to facilitate a way for the council to obtain the funding required to carry out necessary actions while the city's new roads were being constructed. They also sought a mechanism to include the councils' input in the final design of the housing units to be developed in the city. During the meeting, the councillors had also discussed the city's societal issues, and requested assistance in obtaining the funds needed to complete the city master plan. Members of the WDC deliberated the requirements for development in their city which included improving healthcare services.
The Vice President concurred with the WDC and the councillors and noted the importance of upgrading the healthcare services and expediting the road development project in his hometown of Fuvahmulah City.
At the meeting, the President informed the councillors that their input would be taken into account when the housing project in being finalised, along with their suggestions for road development. President Solih highlighted how a task force had been established to address the country's social problems and assured the councillors that he would communicate with the relevant line ministries in an effort to address and find appropriate solutions to the issues that were raised.
Following the meeting, the President and First Lady visited the harbour and the coastal erosion site in Fuvahmulah City. The government is currently working on the coastal protection of the area via MT Højgaard Pvt. The MVR 300 Million project encompasses the construction of 2,650 metres of coastline protection walls from the north Fuvahmulah harbour to the east of the island. The President had announced that the harbour expansion project survey would be awarded to the previous contractors during the ‘Maahefun’ gathering hosted for the residents of the city on Friday night.
The President and First Lady went on to tour the work site of Fuvahmulah City's road development project, which is being undertaken by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). The state-owned enterprise would be overseeing construction of the roads with adequate storm water drainage systems, along with street lamps to fully complete the new roads. They also visited the Fuvahmulah City Hospital where renovation work was taking place at the laboratory services.
Fuvahmulah City is the first stop on President Solih and First Lady Fazna's four-day trip to the Maldives' southernmost cities. They are accompanied by Vice President Faisal Naseem and a delegation of cabinet ministers and senior officials from the government.
