The project to construct a new building for the Secretariat of the Kinolhas Island Council in Raa Atoll commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony and the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. This event was marked by the presence of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu during his visit to the island.
The ceremony is a key event in President Dr Muizzu's comprehensive three-day tour of several islands within Raa Atoll, highlighting the administration's commitment to enhancing local governance structures. Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, laid the foundation stone for the new Secretariat building.
The development in Kinolhas is part of a broader initiative to build local council secretariat buildings on 55 islands across the country. The project has been recently awarded to Malaysia-based Hextar Global Sdn. Bhd. under a contractor-finance model. This project aims to alleviate space constraints faced by local island councils and enhance their operational efficiency, according to the government.
The contract stipulates a 30-month completion timeline for all islands encompassed in the project. As part of this comprehensive initiative, groundbreaking ceremonies, which include the ceremonial laying of foundation stones, have already been held on four islands, Kinolhas among them.