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MDP President Abdulla Shahid has called on the government to immediately return Savaheli Island to the jurisdiction of Addu City Council, accusing the central government of stripping away local rights and undermining regional tourism development.
News Desk
Maldivian Foreign Minister and President of the 76th UNGA, Abdulla Shahid -Photo: Xinhua
Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President and former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has sharply criticized the government for removing Savaheli Island from the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council, demanding its immediate return to the local populace.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Shahid claimed the central government seized control of the island just as the Addu City Council had opened bidding to lease, develop, and manage a recreational and entertainment facility on the land.
Shahid highlighted that the planned development was a highly anticipated local project designed to create youth employment, boost local tourism, and directly support guesthouses as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Addu City—particularly in Feydhoo, which sits directly opposite Savaheli's tourism zone.
The opposition leader accused the administration of stripping away a vital right belonging to Addu citizens without
consulting either the public or their elected local representatives.
"Decisions about the future of Addu's citizens should not be made by people sitting in air-conditioned rooms in Malé," Shahid stated. "The people of this city must have the right to shape their own future."
Shahid called on the government to halt central interference and immediately hand back management of Savaheli Island to the council to safeguard the region's tourism development.
