President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has officially inaugurated the new office building for the Raa Rasgetheemu Council during his ongoing visit Raa Atoll.

This milestone event marks significant progress for the local community, as it enhances the council’s capacity to better serve its residents.

The construction of the new council office commenced in 2023 under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) budget allocated by the Local Government Authority (LGA). The previous council building had been rendered unusable due to severe structural damage, forcing the council to operate from a rented facility.

During the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Rasgetheemu Council, highlighted the importance of the new building, noting that it resolves the long-standing issue of inadequate space for administrative work. He explained that the facility includes offices for each council member, additional rooms for the Secretary General and Budget Head, dedicated space for the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) and administrative tasks, as well as a conference room and council meeting room.

He also noted that the new building has been designed to accommodate potential future expansions in staff, ensuring the council remains equipped to handle the island's evolving needs.

Addressing space shortages in local civic bodies has been a priority for the Government, with several initiatives underway to construct new council buildings across 105 islands.

Of these, a Malaysian firm has been contracted to build 55 council offices. The Government has set an ambitious target to resolve space constraints across all local councils by the end of its term.