Discussions centered on the development of Velidhoo island in Noonu atoll, have been held.

At a meeting in the President’s Office, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih briefed the island councilors on some of the development projects that have been planned for the constituency under the government’s development agenda.

Councilors went on to share concerns and recommendations regarding some of said projects including road development, underdevelopment of the island harbor, waste management issues as well as lack of land.

Further discussions focused on the island’s health and education sector and several other issues related to the socio-economic development of Velidhoo.

Solih went on to assure the councilors that the government’s decentralization policy will strengthen local governance and resolve several issues and challenges facing Velidhoo constituents with its introduction.

Having listened to the concerns raised by the councilors, Solih assured that the government will work with the relevant ministries in order to tackle the issues at hand.

In addition to the Velidhoo Council, Solih also met with the Lhaviyani atoll council on Thursday where discussions touched on similar concerns with councilors having shed light on the many development projects that could be carried out in the atoll under the scope of funds allocated to the atoll under the recently proposed state budget for the upcoming year.

Other concerns shared by the atoll council include challenges facing the fisher community, such as some of the unsustainable bait fishing techniques by fishermen from other atolls affecting bait fishing in the atoll.

Councilors also shared information on their efforts to declare some regions of the atoll as protected areas.