President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to develop public works areas in every atoll across the Maldives. The announcement was made while speaking to residents of Maakurathu, Raa Atoll, as part of a tour to several islands of Raa Atoll.
Addressing at a community meeting, the President highlighted the critical role of such facilities in maintaining and preserving of public infrastructure, which are developed with significant investments. He noted that proper maintenance of the infrastructure can reduce maintenance costs in the long run, and assured that the cost incurred to establish public works areas will be a worthwhile investment.
In addition to nationwide public works unit, the President announced two mobile public works units in the North and South of the country; a project earmarked in the 2025 State Budget.
“I have decided to develop one public works area in each atoll, along with mobile sites that can be moved from one area to the other. While this initiative has been included in the current year’s budget, Raa Atoll’s mobile public works service site will be established on this island,” he announced.
The President said similar sites, equipped with all the machineries and required resources, will be established in each island.
Developmental Pledges for Maakurathu
During his visit to Maakurathu, President Muizzu addressed the resident’s aspirations and outlined key developmental projects for the island.
Prior to addressing island residents, the President met with the Maakurathu Council and the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) to discuss the pressing needs and identify solutions. Key issues raised during the meeting included:
The Council emphasised the urgent need for the timely completion of the island’s harbour, an important wish of the community to enhance accessibility to the island.
Concerns were raised regarding the unresolved issues with the island’s water and sewerage infrastructure. The Council highlighted that this too, would bring about eases to the daily lives of the people.
The President was briefed on the current status of the island’s school. While the school is currently facing challenges due to the absence of a SEN teacher, the lack of a multipurpose hall in the school was also noted as a major concern.
The Council also expressed the desire for a football field and a fitness and recreation centre to support the island’s youth and support sports development.
The President was briefed by the Council on the island’s health centre’s current situation and the requirements necessary to enhance services provided to the community.
Community Meeting with Island Residents Assures Delivery of Results
Addressing the island residents at the community meeting, the President acknowledged that there are extensive work to be done on the island for its development. Shedding light on some of these concerns shared by the Council, particularly the harbour issue, the President said in his tenure as the Minister of Housing, harbour initiatives were carried out across the Maldives. However, while the former government failed to implement such initiatives for various reasons, he now has the opportunity to continue his legacy in the capacity of the president, he added. He pledged to complete the Maakurathu Harbour this year, describing it as a top priority.
The President promised to improve the island’s Health Centre by providing additional staff and resources for the centre. With funds already allocated for the purpose in the current year’s budget, the President assured residents that the community’s healthcare concerns will be addressed. The President also promised to obtain new resourcesto support education on the island.
Speaking on sports and recreation, President Muizzu pledged to develop a futsal ground on the island. He also vowed to establish a youth centre and additional sports resources would also be established on the island.
Highlighting the housing challenges faced by the entire country, the President said the government is prioritising housing initiatives nationwide. Next year, a housing initiative will be undertaken in Maakurathu as well, he announced.
Key Milestones During the Visit
The ground breaking ceremony for the island’s police post was held during the President’s visit. The police post’s ground breaking was by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan and Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau. This was in alignment with the Ressident’s policy to expand police services to all inhabited islands.
The ground breaking for the island’s new council building was also conducted as part of the visit. This 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 Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, laid the foundation stone for the new Secretariat building. 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 five islands, Maakurathu among them.
Additionally, an agreement was signed between the Bank of Maldives (BML) and the Maakurathu Council to install an ATM on the island. The agreement was signed by BML’s Director of Retail and SME Banking Badruddeen Hassan, and Maakurathu Council’s President Mohamed Rameez.
Maakurathu becomes the seventh island in Raa Atoll to sign deals with BML to establish ATM service. In November last year, BML announced an ambitious initiative to install ATMs in all inhabited islands by the end of 2025. This initiative aligns with the President's pledge to provide ATM services in all inhabited islands of the Maldives, ensuring that all Maldivians have access to banking services. Currently, BML operates 150 ATMs across 90 islands, with the bank aiming to install ATMs in 17 additional islands by the end of March 2025.
The President concluded the visit after expressing confidence in the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. He assured residents that new and stalled projects alike would be implemented in Maakurathu, producing comprehensive and tangible results.