President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday met with the Island Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) members of Bilehdhoo Island in the Faafu Atoll. The meeting was held at the Secretariat of Bilehdhoo Island Council. Before the meeting, the President signed the visitor’s book.
Speaking at the meeting, President Solih expressed gratitude to the council and residents for their warm reception of him, First Lady Fazna Ahmed, and the accompanying delegation upon their arrival to the island. He emphasised the significance of his administration actively seeking the input of local councils and residents in all relevant matters, particularly those directly impacting them.
At the meeting, the council members expressed their gratitude for the administration’s development projects, acknowledging and accepting the advancements and progress brought forth. They affirmed their trust in this administration, highlighting that its tenure has witnessed more significant development for the island than the cumulative progress achieved over the past five decades.
The council members raised concerns regarding financial constraints, the absence of sports grounds and facilities, the necessity for a school library, and the adoption of renewable energy in government offices and institutions. During the meeting, the WDC members acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the transformative changes and revisions introduced to decentralised governance by President Solih and his administration. They also emphasised their financial concerns as a crucial and pressing issue that needed to be addressed.
President Solih acknowledged the primary concern expressed by the island’s residents regarding land constraints. He further announced initiating a land reclamation project for the island, which would commence alongside the harbour development project.
Emphasising his administration’s commitment to comprehensive development across the nation, the President assured the council and WDC members that he would engage with relevant offices and institutions to explore feasible solutions to the concerns raised during the meeting. The President would then travel to Feeali Island as the last leg of his ongoing visit to Faafu Atoll.
