President: Sole vision is to deliver holistic 'Jazeera' lifestyle to all

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the sole purpose of his administration was to deliver all a comprehensive ‘Jazeera’ (islanders’) lifestyle to all Maldivian people.

He made the comment at the opening of the third edition of the Viavathi Raajje conference in L. Gan on Sunday morning.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Solih said Maldives was seeing great change, from islands to the north to the south.

“From out your doorway, from your home street, from your home island, from your atoll, and from the entire Maldives – this change is tangible,” he said.

The Viavathi Raajje conference was initiated by the President to enhance the system of decentralization.

President Solih described decentralization as the biggest administrative change to Maldives.

He said that the councilors, and he himself, was elected to develop the islands of Maldives through decentralization system.

“I have no other purpose, aim of vision,” he said.

President Solih said that if necessary amendments weren’t made to Decentralization Act, the system would stall, as was previously experienced.

He said that all of his administration’s policies were designed and implemented based on the system of decentralization.

“That is to find a happy islanders’ lifestyle where services, businesses, and islands are linked and function cohesively,” he said.

President Solih said all Maldivian people had the right to a happy and prosperous life, and it was what his administration aimed to deliver.

The administration is on track to decentralize Maldives, and improve accessibility to services, resources and opportunities, he said.

President Solih said the biggest purpose of Viavathi Raajje was to check the progress of implementation of Decentralization Act, and to engage in discussion to make necessary changes and perfect the system in order to meet the aspirations of the people.

He said that all conferences had specific targets that participants wish to achieve.

He noted that one of the main concerns raised by councils is the difference in block grants to different councils.

President Solih described decentralization as a system that brings “a better other way, through a new way”.

The Viavathi Raajje conference is being attended by city council mayors, island council presidents and presidents of Women’s Development Committees (WDC) from the southern atolls of Maldives: Dh. Atoll, Th. Atoll, L. Atoll, GA. Atoll, GDh. Atoll, Fuvahmulah City and Addu City, along with the President, government ministers, Parliament members of the southern atolls, policy executives from the President’s Office, and technical experts from various institutions including state-owned enterprises.

Over 270 individuals are gathered for the conference, including 107 council members and WDC representatives.