During his visit to Fuvahmulah City, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was warmly welcomed by enthusiastic supporters as part of his presidential election campaign.
President Solih's visit to the island of Fuvahmulah on Sunday, July 30, was accompanied by his campaign team and prominent members of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), including Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail. The President received a warm welcome from Vice President Faisal Naseem, who is a resident of Fuvahmulah City.
In addition to key MDP members, President Solih was joined by Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the leader of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) during his visit. MDA has joined the ruling party as a coalition partner for this year's presidential election.
Hundreds of enthusiastic Fuvahmulah City locals formed long queues outside the airport, eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Solih. Fuvahmulah City marks the 31st destination on President Solih's presidential election campaign trail.
Though President Solih received a warm welcome by Fuvahmulah City residents generally, supporters of the main opposition, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), gathered near the airport to chant their dissatisfaction. The mob was however interrupted and diverted by Maldives Police Service.
Despite the warm welcome from the majority of Fuvahmulah City residents, a group of individuals who were supporters of the main opposition party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), gathered near the airport to express their dissatisfaction. However, the situation was quickly handled by the Maldives Police Service, who intervened and diverted the crowd.
During the campaign rally held on Sunday evening, President Solih reassured the residents of Fuvahmulah City that his administration is committed to the expansion of the island's harbor and airport.
During his speech at the event, President Solih praised the unique environment and qualities of Fuvahmulah Island. He criticized previous administrations for neglecting the island, which he believes has hindered its progress and development.
"Previous administrations had attempted to undertake projects here, but the issue is that the projects were initiated slowly because of which Fuvahmulah had not progressed as it should have," President Solih said.
While highlighting the importance of infrastructural development projects carried out by previous administrations, President Solih emphasized the harbor's development as a significant achievement. However, he also noted that the venue has become insufficient for vessels to berth freely.
President Solih said that the several technical and engineering aspects were factored in for the harbor’s development and assured that his administration will expand the venue after analyzing how to do it.
"The harbor will be expanded during the next term," President Solih said.
He added that the island’s airport, developed during MDP’s first presidency under Mohamed Nasheed, is now inadequate to cater to the needs of Fuvahmulah locals. President Solih pledged to expand the airport venue during his next presidential term as well.
"God willing, we will expand this airport to accommodate the latest ATR aircraft from Island Aviation," President Solih said.
Besides pledging to expand both the harbor and the airport, President Solih assured that a 50-bed hospital will be developed specifically for children during his second term.
At Sunday evening's rally, the MDP presidential candidate expressed joy for having fulfilled his 2018 campaign pledges for the island before his first term concluded.
"[We] had listened to the people, and our first priority was to redevelop the roads, protect the eroded area, and improve the water and sanitation system in the island," said President Solih.
"19.7 meters of asphalt have been installed on the roads now, and work on this will be completed after repairing all the roads that require fixing. We have also resolved water and sanitation issues".
President Solih further said that the strongest development momentum in Fuvahmulah was observed during his presidency over the past 10 years.
"From 2008 to the next 10 years, only 27 projects were carried out in Fuvahmulah, but under our administration, we have initiated 43 projects," President Solih said.
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