Expansion of Kendhikulhudhoo School: Two years on, government fails to pay contractor for finishing works
The N. Kendhikulhudhoo Council has reported that the project to address space constraints at the local school has come to a standstill near completion due to the current administration's failure to settle outstanding payments with the contractor. The school noted that the delay in finishing minor final touches is causing significant disruptions to the new academic year. While the project progressed rapidly under the previous administration, its ongoing stagnation has become a major concern for both the school and the local community.
The Kendhikulhudhoo Council has stated that although the expansion project for the local school was initiated during President Solih's administration, the current government has failed to complete the work, leaving it stalled for two years. | RaajjeMV | Raajje MV
The President of N. Kendhikulhudhoo Island Council, Mohamed Shahid, has stated that the project initiated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration to resolve space constraints at the local school remains unfinished. He noted that although the project has reached the finishing stages over the past two years, work has stalled because the current government has failed to release the necessary payments to the contractor.
This project was initiated by President Solih’s administration in January 2023 and had been progressing at a rapid pace. Speaking to RaajjeTV, Shahid stated that the project was nearly complete by the time the current administration took office.
He noted that only the finishing work remains incomplete, yet the project continues to stall. Shahid stated that the contractors have halted progress because the current administration has failed to settle outstanding payments. He further highlighted that despite the government being in power for two years, these payments remain unpaid.
The principal had high hopes of commencing classes at this facility this year. However, the contractor has yet to hand over the building to the Ministry. Our inquiries reveal that the contractor has halted work due to an outstanding payment. Only minor finishing touches, such as paint touch-ups, remain to be completed. We have contacted the contractor for clarification, and they have indicated that the final works will only be completed once the payment is settled.Mohamed Shahid, President of the N. Kendhikulhudhoo Island Council
Shahid stated that the school had expressed its concerns regarding the fact that construction work remained incomplete even as the new academic year commenced.
Shahid noted that the school had initially planned and hoped to utilize three additional classrooms upon the project's completion. However, he highlighted that the failure to finish the work on schedule has resulted in significant logistical challenges for the institution.
Shahid stated that the previous administration had been executing the project at a rapid pace. He further noted that there was full confidence it would be completed within the original timeframe, an outcome the island's school had highly anticipated.
