Guraidhoo receives special focus following 74 percent vote turnout in presidential election

One of the more special islands for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu since the previous Presidential election victory days is Th. Guraidhoo. It is one of the islands that had the highest number of votes towards President Muizzu during the election.

The result of the President receiving 74 percent of Guraidhoo votes during the second round of the Presidential elections is his focus shifting to the island.

President Muizzu stated that his first visit would be to Guraidhoo after the election campaign and he did so on 6th February 2024. Almost the entire island came out to celebrate.

Last night, the President connected his current Thaa Atoll visit and how special it is to the 2023 election campaign. President Muizzu stated that the Guraidhoo Airport, which was a presidential pledge during the election campaign, would finish within 22 months from today.

During last night's meeting with Guraidhoo residents, President Muizzu stated that he had arrived on the island in February 2024 after the elections in order to fulfill a pledge. The pledge was that he would visit the island with the highest votes that went to him.

Last night, President Muizzu said that he had come back to Guraidhoo one year and six months in order to fulfill another pledge, with it being the airport pledge.

"Land reclamation of the airport has been completed. The project that has been signed tonight is regarding the construction of the airport and its handover. The project has been handed over to MACL," said the President.

"This project is set to finish and open in 22 months from tomorrow. Meaning, the airport will hopefully open on Independence Day, 26th July 2027."

As per President Muizzu, the Guraidhoo Airport is a very important resource for the urban and economic development of the island.

"Hopefully this is an important beginning to development," said the President.

One of the biggest pledges President Muizzu has made to Guraidhoo is the development of its roads. The work for that project was handed over last night. The construction of a new wing for the Guraidhoo Hospital is also set to begin today. 

President Muizzu stated that those are the three main pledges he had expressed to Guraidhoo.

"It is my hope that these three projects will proceed smoothly and promptly, with the relevant ministries overseeing them. And so, what's next is the practical work of the pledges to begin and be completed," said the President.

President Muizzu stated last night that the administration will soon start a project to build houses in the plots that have been given to the people of Guraidhoo. The President announced during last night's meeting that next year's state budget will allocate for the construction of 100 housing units via the housing scheme.

"What will the council submit to the ministry regarding this? We can proceed with two ways for the housing units. A portion of the 100 housing units can be in one area or we can even construct the units in the Public Housing Area that is defined in the Land Use Plan. Another portion can also be built as individual houses. Or all the units can be built together as houses. A decision will be reached after the council has gathered the opinion of the public," said the President.

During the meeting, the President also assured Guraidhoo residents that seven hectares of land will be reclaimed. He went on to say that MTCC will reclaim seven hectares of land for Guraidhoo after they finish the Gaadhiffushi land reclamation project.

President Muizzu stated that next year's budget will also include the Guraidhoo expansion project. He said that it will be done once the design for the Guraidhoo harbor has been finalized.