President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has determined that Mathiveri Finolhu will fall under the jurisdiction of Alifu Alifu atoll Mathiveri, and Gaaerifaru will be under the jurisdiction of Lhaviyani atoll Hinnavaru, in a motion released on Wednesday.
The president has the power to determine the jurisdiction of administrative islands and cities in Maldives, according to the Decentralization Act.
The motion, signed by the president and released on Wednesday, August 30, states that Gaaerifaru is now under the jurisdiction of Hinnavaru, while Mathiveri Finolhu is now within the jurisdiction of Mathiveri.
The idea to include the uninhabited island within Mathiveri’s jurisdiction was proposed to president Solih in 2021 by the island’s council president. He pledged that he would give the uninhabited island to Mathiveri when he visited the island a fortnight ago during his campaign tour.
The island currently used by the people of Mathiveri for recreational purposes is one of the islands implicated in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal. Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir had acquired shares from the individuals who originally purchased the island and announced plans to develop a 100-room resort there. However, in July 2022, the government allocated Jabir another lagoon for development.
Gaaerifaru, the island included in Hinnavaru’s jurisdiction is located in close proximity to it. During the previous administration, the island was sold to a Thai company. However, according to the Hinnavaru Council, the current administration has canceled that agreement.
Similar to Mathiveri, the people of Hinnavaru has been using Gaaerifaru as a picnic destination.
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