Hope Island project, previously scheduled to commence physical works in January, remains yet to be awarded to a contractor

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has stated that the "Hope Island" project has yet to be awarded to a contractor, despite his previous assertions that physical work on the initiative would commence last January.

The "Hope Island" project was originally slated for development on the island of Vaanee in Dhaalu Atoll. However, the government has now decided to relocate the facility to Uthuru Thila Falhu. During a press conference held by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology on December 21 last year, Minister Ihusan stated that work on this facility—the final center required under the juvenile justice system—would commence in January. Despite this assurance, the project has yet to begin.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Minister Ihusan stated that the Central Jail and Hope Island projects will be developed simultaneously. He further noted that Uthuru Thila Falhu has now been designated for this purpose. With the necessary planning phases complete, the government will now proceed with the process of securing contractors for the projects.

As previously mentioned, the Hope Island project has reached the contracting stage. Similarly, the evaluation phase for the awarding of the central prison project is currently underway. We anticipate that both projects will be completed and operational by the first quarter of 2028. However, if the current pace of work is maintained, we believe certain components of the central prison could potentially be brought into service as early as 2027.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan

The Minister stated that under the "Hope Island" concept, and in accordance with existing legal provisions, children at risk will be removed from their current hazardous environments and relocated to a safe setting. He emphasized that by isolating them from these dangers, the initiative aims to provide these children with the necessary opportunities and restore their hopes for the future.

Minister Ihusan stated that the center will conduct rehabilitation programs designed to guide children away from criminal environments, even if they have already committed an offense or are currently at risk of delinquency. He emphasized that these programs aim to reform them into individuals who make both their parents and the nation proud.

Therefore, one of the primary policies of this administration is to establish and operationalize a specialized center capable of providing services to approximately 400 children simultaneously. Our current efforts are focused on three core policy areas: investigating crimes of child exploitation to bring perpetrators to justice, establishing a facility to support children currently trapped in these circumstances, and addressing these broader social issues holistically.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan

Despite the Minister's current remarks, it was previously stated that Hope Island in Uthuru Thila Falhu is being developed with a specific capacity to accommodate 700 people.

Earlier in May 2024, Minister Ihusan announced the commencement of work on "Hope Island," a facility dedicated to rehabilitating children exposed to criminal environments. At the time, the Minister stated that the project was currently in the planning phase to facilitate the establishment of the island.