As part of his ongoing tour across Laamu atoll, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held discussions revolving around development visions the councilors of Hithadhoo island have for their constituents.

Meeting with the councilors and representative from institutions on the island at the council secretariat on Thursday, President Solih inquired on the current concerns and issues facing the island community.

Some of the concerns noted by the council members include the lack of utility services on the islands, delays in road development and issues facing the local fishermen community, with whom the president also held discussions on Thursday.

Further, institution representatives went on to highlight the need for the island’s school to be expanded, the healthcare facility to be upgraded and to improve facilities for the island’s youth community.

Emphasizing that the recently-ratified amendment to the Decentralization Act will empower local councils with more authority to resolve issues facing their respective communities, Solih assured that his government will hold discussions with relevant ministries in order to tackle the issues at hand.

In addition, meeting with the fishermen community of the atoll, Solih held discussions revolving around ways that may be introduced to resolve challenges surfacing for the community.

Some of the difficulties noted by the community include acquiring ice, the prices for which their catch are sold, banking difficulties as well as difficulties in using the “Fahi Hakatha” mobile application.

Solih told the local fishermen that the government is currently working to resolve issues that Maldivian fishermen face in their work.

The president began his tour across Laamu atoll on Thursday morning and will be visiting three islands throughout; Gan, Hithadhoo and Fonadhoo.