Faisal Naseem says Hope Island was an MDP era model and that the government is already late to implement it

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem on Sunday said the government is already late in establishing Hope Island, a rehabilitation facility for children exposed to crime.

Home Minister Ali Ihusaan announced on April 6, 2024 that a rehabilitation centre would be developed to keep children away from criminal environments. He said the project involves dredging 15 hectares of land in the Uthuru Thila Falhu lagoon.

Referring to the project, Faisal wrote on X that Hope Island is a model concept originally developed by the MDP government. He said the project was planned to be implemented by the MNDF at L. Kalhaidhoo, and designed to include vocational training centres and income‑generating activities. According to Faisal, once a participant completes the programme, the child would be guaranteed a job or a pathway to employment.

He wrote that the Hope Island project was designed to address multiple social issues, but the concept had been delayed. “Today is already too late to do this. The institutions meant to deal with social issues in the country aren’t fit to handle such a project on their own, so it needs to be done by all the institutions together, without delay,” Faisal said.

ހޯޕް އައިލެެންޑްގެ ނަމުގައި ސަރުކާރުން ހިންގުމަށް ރާވާފައިވާ މަޝްރޫއުއަކީ ކުރީ ސަރުކާރުން އެކުލަވާލާފައިވާ ފުރިހަމަ މޮޑެލް އެއް އޮތް ކޮންސެޕްޓެއް. މި ޕްރޮޖެކްޓަކީ ސަރުކާރުގެ ކަމާއި ގުޅުންހުރި މުއައްސަސާތަކާއި ފަންނީ އެތައް ބައެއްގެ ބައިވެރިވުން ހިމެނޭހެން ލާމު އަތޮޅު… pic.twitter.com/RozIIN2Wpa

— Faisal Naseem (@FaisalNasym) July 5, 2026

Faisal believes the project should be monitored by the relevant government agency, with support from other institutions. He also said the project could produce a desirable social outcome within five years if implemented in line with international standards.

Meanwhile, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu shared details of the project on Friday, after a long period without updates. He said the project is progressing in various stages and that securing funding had taken considerable time. Proposals for the project are currently being evaluated, and he described Hope Island as one of the modern solutions to reduce crime.