President Solih launches website detailing government initiatives

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih introduced the comprehensive website www.isles.gov.mv on Monday, during the Councillors Conference held at Crossroads Maldives.

The online resource is part of the government's initiative to ensure transparency and accountability in state-driven activities and projects.

In addition to statistics on island populations, economic resources and other means of revenue, the site also features commencement and proposed end dates for all government projects.

The 'Isles' website indicates which councillors are responsible for which islands and regions, as well as highlighting which islands have been leased for resort development, are currently operating as resorts, and which lands are identified and protected as environmentally vulnerable areas.

According to Aminath Shauna, Policy Secretary at the President's Office, the website will act as a single platform offering information pertaining to approved land-use plans, expatriate populations, and all other relevant data.

Shauna further stated that in the near future, the online resource would disclose statistics on the working population, GST obtained and revenue generated from individual islands as well.

"At present, the website has been updated with budget estimates for 2019 and 2020, including all PSIP projects and funding agencies", said Shauna.

She asserted that the priority remained to ensure these initiatives move forward in a swift, efficient manner.

'Viavathi Raajje', the first of its kind two-day Councillors Conference held for members of local councils, took place across four sessions and concluded on Monday night. It focused on creating awareness among councillors on the challenges of governance and development of constituencies, and to familiarise them with the newly ratified amendments to the Decentralisation Act.