President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih met on Sunday with the members of the Meemu Atoll Council and held extensive discussions about the socioeconomic development of the atoll and ways to address the challenges facing the island communities. The meeting was held at the Secretariat of the Atoll Council on Muli Island.
The President is on Muli Island, on the last leg of his tour of five islands in the Meemu Atoll. The atoll is seeing rapid development with the "unprecedented" number of infrastructure projects initiated by the administration, according to the council members, who thanked the President on behalf of the island communities.
The President and the council members discussed various topics, including ways to expedite the fishermen’s harbour project in Mulah Island, improving healthcare services at Muli Regional Hospital, and the need to connect Muli and Naalaafushi Islands with a causeway.
The council members also requested the President to exercise equity between the islands when allocating housing projects, designate the uninhabited island of Maalhuveli as a picnic island, and repurpose Thuvaru Island—currently leased for farming—as a tourist resort. Discussions also focused on developing tourist facilities alongside the Muli Airport project and creating more jobs.
The council members also expressed concern over the prevalence of drug abuse in Mulah, Muli, and Naalaafushi Islands, which is causing adverse effects on the socioeconomic progress of the region. The President appreciated the council’s support and cooperation in the administration’s efforts to combat drug abuse.
The President stated that he had formulated a special task force to combat the drug trade and substance abuse, which he described as one of the most pressing issues in the country. The President also stressed the importance of raising awareness about the issue.
Briefing the council members about the developmental plans for the atoll, the President said that, following delays due to a lack of interest from contractors for the Mulah fishermen’s harbour project, the contract has been awarded to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company PLC (MTCC). It is financed by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). The President also assured the council members of the administration’s commitment to finding amicable solutions to their concerns.
As part of the President’s five-island tour of the atoll, he visited the islands of Raiymandhoo, Maduvvari, and Dhiggaru on Saturday. On Sunday, President Solih visited Veyvah ahead of his trip to Muli Island.