Construction of the junior college in Kendhikulhudhoo, contracted to Villa College, has remained stalled since the current administration took office.

The Vice President of the Kendhikulhudhoo Council, Hassan Mohamed, has stated that work on the junior college being developed in N. Kendhikulhudhoo in collaboration with Villa College has been at a standstill since the current administration took office. He further noted that despite the project being awarded to contractors on two separate occasions, no progress has been made.

The construction of the Kendhikulhudhoo Junior College and its accommodation block was a project initiated during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. However, despite the commencement of physical works, the project has since come to a standstill. Regarding the situation, the Vice President of the Kendhikulhudhoo Council, Hassan Mohamed, stated that the junior college is a project of immense hope for the island's residents. He noted that while this vision was first introduced during the initial MDP administration, it has remained unfulfilled for approximately the past 14 years.

Hassan stated that the land had been allocated to the Ministry of Higher Education and that the project was awarded to Villa College. He noted that while the Ministry commissioned the project to Villa College in November 2022, the foundation stone was laid only last year.

Minister Haider attended the foundation-laying ceremony, where he made several ambitious claims. He boasted that the project would be completed within approximately 18 months. However, the project faced significant delays, and while the contractor struggled to find subcontractors, a group called Hikavi eventually took on the work. Hikavi brought approximately 4.5 million Rufiyaa worth of materials to the site and commenced operations. However, they eventually halted work, stating they would not proceed further because they had not been paid. By that time, Villa College had already issued a 15 percent advance payment to the contractor to facilitate the project's execution.

Hassan Mohamed, Vice President of the Kendhikulhudhoo Island Council

Hassan stated that although additional workers have been brought in to resume the project, no arrangements have been made for their accommodation at the site, nor have provisions been established for their meals or sleeping quarters.

The most significant issue faced by the residents was the arrival of more than twenty staff members during the first phase. These individuals were defecating and urinating in the woods. Furthermore, they were consuming produce from the trees in the forested areas. This led to a surge of complaints from the local community. In response, we formally notified the Ministry of Higher Education, Villa College, and the contractor regarding these incidents. Subsequently, another issue arose involving the unauthorized harvesting of coconuts from the woods. While investigating this, eleven individuals were caught in the act on a single day. This matter was also reported; however, none of these issues have been resolved.

Hassan Mohamed, Vice President of the Kendhikulhudhoo Island Council

Hassan stated that work has come to a complete standstill since the current administration took office. He noted that many members of the public believe the college's operations were halted because Gasim is seeking to secure some form of personal gain.

Hassan stated that the council has allocated an 86,000-square-foot plot of land for the construction of the college on a 50-year lease. He noted that the council’s objective was to provide the land for the college free of charge, while applying a nominal rate of five Laari per square foot for the area designated for guesthouse operations. He further emphasized that the community aspires to introduce local tourism to the island. In line with this vision, the land was provided at no cost to facilitate the establishment of the college, which will offer specialized courses in the field of tourism.