President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has departed from Hoandeddhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll after ignoring multiple requests for a meeting with the island council.

The Hoandeddhoo Council had requested a meeting with the president to discuss the challenges in opening up Kandevarehaa, an uninhabited island near Hoandeddhoo, for tourism development.

The council stated that they had made numerous attempts through various means to request meetings with the president and relevant ministries to discuss the obstacles in developing Kandevarehaa for tourism. This included sending multiple letters and making phone calls to plead their case.

Expressing concerns about this issue, the Vice President of Hoandeddhoo Council Ahmed Shihaam, took to social media.

In his post, Shihaam said that the council had made extensive efforts and sent several letters to relevant government ministries to address the challenges in opening Kandevarehaa for tourism and to resolve the issue of unrevised land rent for Horizon Fisheries in Hoandeddhoo. However, he stated that none of these letters received a response after many days, and despite repeated requests to meet with the president and relevant ministries, no meeting has been arranged to date.

Shihaam further stressed that it was very concerning that no meeting with the council was scheduled during the president's most recent trip to Hoandeddhoo.

In addition to this, Shihaam's post highlighted that as long as such significant issues related to the people remain unresolved, the elected council members should not go to welcome the president.

Providing further information on this issue to RaajjeMV Hoandeddhoo Council Vice President Shihaam said that there was still no sign of a solution to this issue. He stressed that even during the president's most recent visit to the islands in the atoll, the council had requested a meeting, but they were told it would not be possible.

Shihaam said that the reason given for declining to meeting with the council during the most recent trip was that these presidential trips were “not intended” for meetings with island councils, according to the President's Office.

Shihaam stated that they had also made a similar request during the former administration, and when it didn't materialize then, they had high hopes for the current administration. This was because during the recent presidential election campaign, when the current incumbent visited Hoandeddhoo and met with the council, he had indicated that a solution would be sought. Shihaam said that the president had even assured them that he would "attend" to the matter. However, he noted that the current administration has also failed to provide any assistance in connection with the issue.

Kandevarehaa, approximately 4.6 hectares in size, is a small uninhabited island within the jurisdiction of Hoandeddhoo. It is rich in marine life and has a beautiful beach.

The opportunity to submit bids for interested parties to develop and operate an integrated tourist resort on the island was opened on 25 September 2024. The Hoandeddhoo Council, which manages the island, had decided to develop an integrated tourism resort and had also publicized the concept for it.

Kandevarehaa is nestled in an area that can be reached by speedboat in about five minutes from Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport.