President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured that the Government will work with relevant ministries and State-owned companies to address pressing issues raised by the residents of Vaavu Thinadhoo during his ongoing tour of Vaavu atoll.

During the community meeting in Thinadhoo, residents highlighted urgent concerns including the need for an upgraded electricity system, improvements to the harbour, and better waste management facilities. They also stressed the importance of enhancing health services and infrastructure to match Thinadhoo’s growing population and expanding tourism industry.

Island Council President Shifaq Hussain underlined the scale of the harbour problem, noting that vessels had sunk during recent storms due to insufficient facilities. Residents further requested Government support to allocate a nearby island for travel-related businesses, while pointing out that despite having the potential to generating an estimated MVR 125 million in taxes over five years, the island still lacks adequate healthcare and harbour facilities.

President Dr Muizzu assured attendees that the Administration would coordinate with relevant authorities to resolve these issues. As part of the commitments, he announced that a US dollar ATM would be established on the island by March 2026 to ease financial access. He also pledged that the harbour and service-related concerns would be reviewed by the relevant agencies for immediate follow-up.

Thinadhoo currently has a registered population of around 225, though the actual number of residents, including workers in the growing tourism sector, exceeds 700. With additional tourism developments underway, including plans to add 400 more beds, the island’s council and residents stressed that improved services and facilities are critical to sustaining growth.

The President’s visit to Vaavu Thinadhoo forms part of his eight-day tour of 31 inhabited islands in the atoll, during which he is meeting directly with communities to gather feedback and outline Government priorities.