President aims to free islanders from costly Male' trips

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced on Wednesday evening that his government's objective is to liberate rural residents from the "slavery" of traveling to Male' to access services at exorbitant prices.

The President made these remarks during his visit to Veymandoo, the capital of Thaa atoll, as part of a four-atoll tour. Addressing the local populace, he highlighted the nearing completion of a branch of the National Center for the Holy Quran on the island, a project anticipated to bring significant joy to the community.

Simultaneously, the inauguration of passport services in Veymandoo is expected to greatly benefit island residents. President Muizzu reiterated the government's commitment to establishing passport services in every atoll, with this initiative nearing completion and slated for full implementation by next month.

Additionally, the government has commenced issuing ID cards in several islands, a measure also intended to enhance the lives of citizens.

"We want the government to bring services directly to where the people are," President Muizzu stated. "Always going to Male' or other far-off places to get services at high prices – we want to end that 'slavery' and bring convenience to the people."

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ، ތ. ވޭމަންޑޫއަށް ވަޑައިގަތުން#RayyithunGaathah #ThaaAtollVisit pic.twitter.com/7sdSIbSdhF

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) September 24, 2025

To further his objective, ATMs are currently being installed on all inhabited islands.

However, the government's promise to establish ATMs and various services on every island has drawn criticism from some residents, who question the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of such widespread infrastructure development.

While the President's vision aims to abolish the necessity of traveling to Male' for services, some inhabitants of smaller islands are concurrently petitioning the government for relocation to larger islands, suggesting a desire for centralized services rather than distributed ones.

In a related initiative, the government has also pledged to develop urban centers across different regions of the country, ensuring that residents in these areas receive the same level of services as those available in Male'.