President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has revealed work will begin in a week to connect Komandoo and Mathikomandoo in Shaviyani Atoll via a bridge. He made the remarks while speaking at the ceremony held to launch the parliamentary by-election campaign in Komandoo for the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s candidate Mohamed Rashid.
At the ceremony, President Solih assured residents of Komandoo that the government will fulfill its pledges to the constituency. The president said connecting Komandoo and Mathikomandoo via a bridge is part of the government's efforts to solve the land shortage on the island. He said the government will begin the project in a week, despite the opposition claiming that it is an attempt to influence the by-election.
Furthermore, President Solih highlighted the pledges made to Maroshi and Foakaidhoo in Shaviyani Atoll as well as establishing an ice plant in Komandoo and issuing land plots from the reclaimed area once the land-use plan has been formulated. The president said tourism businesses will be established in the region to provide job opportunities for the Komandoo youth and that work will begin this year to establish a police station and health centre in Foakaidhoo. He added the land plots will be issued in Foakaidhoo as well and that harbour development in Maroshi will begin next week.
President Solih further said the government's fight against drugs is intolerable to the opposition, and there are groups that are concerned over the large number of drugs being seized. The president said it would be a mistake for citizens to vote for candidates who do not understand decentralisation, and called on voters to support MDP's efforts to fulfill its pledges to Komandoo.
Speaking further, the president said the late Parliamentarian Hussain Waheed, who previously represented Komandoo, was an exemplary individual who had worked for national development in accordance with the decentralisation policy. As such, he noted the last three years have seen the most development in the Komandoo constituency.