The government, through the respective local councils, is seeking contractors to build council secretariat buildings in islands across six Atolls, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar has said.
In January, the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works signed a contract with Malaysia-based Hextar Global to construct council secretariat buildings across 55 islands. The agreement, formalised on 20 January, employs a contractor-finance model designed to optimise resource allocation for public development projects.
The Minister said that the island councils have been asked to seek contractors for the construction of council buildings in Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa and Dhaalu Atoll.
The Utheemu Island Council has already made the announcement for contractors, attracting Minister Adam Shareef’s praise for the council’s prompt action.
Under the government’s landmark project, work has already commenced on 13 islands with groundbreaking ceremonies, spanning three atolls.
The Administration has set a target to complete secretariat buildings on 105 islands during its current tenure. This endeavour seeks to replace ageing and inadequate facilities, addressing long-standing space constraints that have hindered the efficiency of local governance. Once complete, the initiative is expected to fulfil 70 percent of the administration’s goal to enhance administrative capabilities of local councils across the country.