President's Office has revealed President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited 75 islands and met with 101 councils in 2019, as part of the efforts of the administration to work closely with the public.
The President's Office stated the topmost priority of the administration last year was to empower the public and to increase the involvement of all stakeholders in setting its policies. In this regard, the President's Office said President Solih visited 75 islands last year, while also conducting meetings with 101 councils in order to listen to the main public concerns in the islands.
Empowering the public was one of President Solih's main electoral pledges. As such, the administration has brought major changes to the Decentralisation Act and handed many authorities and responsibilities to councils. The president said the changes will enable the administration to pose questions to island councils on development projects, rather than the other way around.
The President's Office added the administration has also been successful in maintaining peace and harmony in the country. The President's Office highlighted that no gang-affiliated murders took place last year, adding violent crimes went down by 50% in 2019, compared to the previous year.
The administration also carried out important projects under the slogan Zero Tolerance to Corruption. Last year, the administration had opened the opportunity for the public to directly file complaints to the President's Office regarding acts of corruption. Out of the cases submitted by the public during the window, 92 cases were investigated and forwarded to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Meanwhile, the administration had also restored the jobs of 119 individuals who had been unlawfully dismissed from their jobs.
One of the primary initiatives by the administration in 2019 was to strengthen the country's foreign policy and reinforce relations with the international community. Highlights of the year include the address made by President Solih at the United Nations General Assembly, which was the first such address made by a Maldivian head of state in 7 years.
The president conducted state visits to 10 countries, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid conducted over 20 official visits, helping to bring in foreign aid worth over 207 million US dollars to Maldives. The visits also facilitated international assistance to the sectors of education, health, economy as well as the military.
The president said the administration's target is to maintain peace, harmony and unity in the country and to ensure the social and financial well-being of Maldivian citizens.