"The administration will fulfill all its pledges": MP Saleem

MP for Hoarafushi constituency, Ahmed Saleem has assured citizens of Uligamu island of Haa Alif atoll stating that the administration will fulfill the pledges made to the island during the presidential campaign of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

While speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new powerhouse in Uligamu island, which belongs to Hoarafushi constituency, Saleem stated that Uligamu has been continuously neglected by the past governments. Hence, by the time the current administration came into power, services such as water and sewerage, education, healthcare, and electricity were in very poor condition.

He further noted that the island lacked job opportunities as well as a proper harbor. Nevertheless, Uligamu will become one of the many islands prioritized for development by the administration within the first year of presidency, said Saleem.

Noting that next year's state budget has allocated money for a number of projects in Uligamu, Saleem revealed that the island's harbor will be renewed next year. Likewise, the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure has confirmed that consultants will be arriving in the upcoming week to make assessments on the harbor, said Saleem.

While highlighting the achievement of 'Top in the World' award in O'level mathematics by a student of Uligamu School, he went onto declare that spending on education on the island does not require a second thought.

Once again referring to the 2020 state budget, Saleem stated that a budget has been allocated for resources for the school in addition to building classrooms for grade 12 students and that work on the project will begin next year.

Moreover, he noted that work has begun on water and sewerage services and that the government has granted all required permits within the past week. He further divulged that the Environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project has been approved by the government, and the project has contracted to a third party.

According to Saleem, Uligamu will set an example for renewable energy as Fenaka Corporation Limited has confirmed that 70% of the electricity generated on the island will come from renewable energy sources.

Additionally, he gave assurance that the City Hotel project in Uligamu, which has been halted for the past 11 years, will restart by the end of 2019. Saleem claimed that proof of the administration's commitment to the project is evident by the fact that President Solih has personally mentioned the project on multiple forums.

In his concluding remarks, he asserted that the island has a bright future ahead as the government will develop Uligamu into a self-dependent island with resources that allow its citizens to earn an income without leaving Uligamu.