Current government has done nothing for Sh. Foakaidhoo but demolishing the Friday Mosque and forcing residents to pray in a multipurpose hall, says Council President

Ahmed Asif, President of the Sh. Foakaidhoo Island Council, has stated that this administration has failed to deliver any meaningful progress for the island, other than forcing residents to pray in a multipurpose hall after demolishing the local Friday Mosque.

He made these remarks while speaking at the "Heyvalla Thayyaaru" campaign rally held in Sh. Foakaidhoo on Saturday night.

He stated that the current administration is making every effort to marginalize local councils and portray them as redundant institutions. He emphasized that citizens must vote for the MDP for the sake of the country's development and future. Furthermore, he remarked that it has become increasingly evident that this administration is incapable of delivering progress.

"They have a common saying: 'Only the government can bring about development.' This narrative must change. When this administration split into two factions, what exactly was achieved?" he said.

The Council President stated that it was former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who ended the isolation and neglect of Sh. Foakaidhoo, ushering in a period of significant development for the island. He questioned whether residents remembered the dire conditions the island faced previously. The Council President noted that prior to the Solih administration, the community had faced numerous challenges and had repeatedly appealed to previous governments for solutions. However, he emphasized that it was former President Solih who finally addressed the concerns of the people and delivered results.

He stated that while the island's water and sanitation conditions had severely deteriorated, former President Solih believed the residents deserved better than bathing in contaminated water. Consequently, it was during former President Solih's administration that a proper sewerage system and clean water network were established for the community.

He stated that it was former President Solih who developed the island's harbor to a high standard, addressing the long-standing difficulties faced by the community.

"Do you remember the days when we were stranded on our islands, with no way to travel? Do you remember the past, when we had to pace the harbor front during the monsoon storms, our lives at risk, with no protection for our vessels in these rough waters?" he asked.

Furthermore, he noted that it was former President Solih who established a new power plant to replace the old, dilapidated facility located in the center of the island, and addressed the space constraints at the local school.