Consensus towards govt has been positive, says President

Citizen consensus and moods toward the government have been marked by complacency and positivity, President Yamin Abdul Gayoom said on Monday.

In his address to initiate parliamentary sessions for 2017, President Yamin said that his government had launched various successful projects across the Maldives with remarkable success. He counted harbors having been built at 13 different islands, and added that similar projects are now underway in 43 more islands.

Stressing on urban development projects in the outer lying islands, President Yamin said that the government inaugurated 56 sewer renovation projects in 56 islands, of said projects; 32 were now beyond the designing process, and 11 are in renovation. The President added that the eight islands now benefit.s from the full-fledged results of last year’s projects.

Projects to reach the government’s goal to harness 30 percent of the electricity in the islands from sustainable sources by 2018 are also underway in 112 islands, the President said. According to him, setups would be fully functional this year in 83 of those islands.

Shifting his focus towards erosion, President Yamin stated that relevant measures have been set up in 12 new islands, and are being built in 22 others. Projects to instill these measures in six islands were given out in 2016, three of these projects will be completed this year, in addition to developments in water supply to three islands.

“The greatest social obstacle facing the Maldives is shortages in housing” the President said.

In this regard, he said that a total of 1,500 housing units are to be built in Villingili in Gaafu Alif Atoll, Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaal Atoll, Fuvahmulah and Addu City. He added that the government also had plans to raise 600 more units in Raa Atoll Madduvari, Eydhafushi in Baa Atoll, Hinnavaru and Naifaru islands in Lhaviyani atoll, Meedhu and Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu Atoll.