President Mohamed Nasheed today visited and met the people of Muraidhoo of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll.
He was given a warm welcome by the people of the island when he arrived in Muraidhoo this afternoon after today´s Cabinet meeting held in Kulhudhuffushi.
Meeting the people of Muraidhoo, the President reiterated that decentralized administration of the Maldives was an idea and a philosophy of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Recalling the reform process of the Constitution, the President said decentralization was not included in the Constitution. However, he noted that decentralized administration of the atolls was later included in the Constitution following the proposition and advocation by two members members of the MDP in the People´s Special Majlis, Mohamed Aslam, Member for Addu Atoll and Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Member for Kolhumadulu Atoll.
Underlining the importance of decentralization and local governance to foster regional and national development, the President said local council elections to be held on February 5 would lay the foundations of the future development of this country.
He said it would be impossible to develop the country without a system of governance that facilitated people´s participation and involvement in the government and shaping their development.
In addition, President Nasheed also underscored that the benefits of implementing the government´s policies were now evident in every area of the country.
Speaking in the context of Muraidhoo, the President said the results of 2010 General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level Exams, results were testament to this. He said after the government changed Muraidhoo School to a single-session school at the beginning of last year, number of students of the school who passed five subjects in 2010 GCE O Level Exams had significantly increased, whereas not a single student passed the Exams in 2009.
Furthermore, the President also spoke on the social and economic benefits of the government´s other development programmes including its social security programme.
Addressing the people of Muraidhoo, the President revealed that funding were earmarked for construction of the island´s sewerage system in this year´s budget.
