President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to bring the uninhabited island of Vangaaru under the jurisdiction of Haa Alif Thuraakunu.
Visiting Thuraakunu for the presidential election campaign, President Solih said he would bring the development changes that the people want for Thuraakunu during his next term.
He pledged to bring Vangaaru under Thuraakunu's jurisdiction as the public wished.
"Vangaaru is an island listed for tourism development. But as urged by the council and the people, the island will be omitted from the tourism list and made available for public use," he said.
The president also noted that the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been tasked with land reclamation in Thuraakunu.
Along with bringing Vangaaru under Thuraakunu's jurisdiction, land reclamation would resolve the island's shortage of space, he said.
"Then the land shortage will be resolved as you wish and when Vangaaru is available for use, the people will be able to use that island for agriculture as well," he said.
Speaking in Thuraakunu, the president also noted the difficulty in embarking and disembarking from the island. He pledged to expand the harbor to resolve the problem.
