President promises to build airport for Komandoo if re-elected

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih pledged on Sunday to build an airport for the people of Sh. Komandoo if re-elected for a second term.

President Solih, who is set to officially launch his re-election bid later Sunday, arrived in Komandoo in the morning, where he met with local residents.

Before he delivered his speech, residents presented him with proposals for key development needs of the island. This includes:

Construction of 300 housing units, and water and sanitation in Mathikomandoo

Construction of an airport in Komandoo, and development resorts in neighboring islands

Construction of a 30-bed mini-hospital

Addressing the gathering, President Solih said he would develop an airport in neighboring Kudafaru in the next five years if re-elected.

“In my next five-year term, I will build an airport in neighboring Kudafaru, as you wish,” he said.

President Solih also said that the work on linking Komandoo and neighboring Mathikomandoo would begin soon once the state-run MTCC brings in its new dredger.

“The dredger will arrive within the last 10 days of July. In Sha Allah, by the end of this month, land will be reclaimed between the two islands as promised,” he said.

President Solih also pledged to develop 300 housing units in Mathikomandoo, and convert the health center in Komandoo to a 30-bed hospital during his second term.

He said that it was no “accident” that he chose Komandoo to launch his 2023 presidential election campaign.

He said that the people of Komandoo were well-versed in campaigning, and that the results of all campaigns he launched in the island had proved fruitful.

President Solih said that mere talk of building a safer Maldives wasn’t enough, and that his administration had taken action to make it happen.

He said that the country had been in dire straits when he assumed office in 2018.

“People were getting killed in the streets. Businesses didn’t have room to trade. Political dissidents were thrown in jail,” he said.

He said that his administration had been able to ascertain the right to freedom of expression and all other fundamental rights.

President Solih said that each and every citizen had the right to live a happy life, and that realizing that right depended on securing fundamental rights first.

He said that many presidential candidates would go to people to beg for votes, and urged voters to consider the last five years with previous administrations before making a decision.