Majority of Rakeedhoo’s 61 residents wish to relocate near Maldivian capital

The majority of the people living in V. Rakeedhoo, an island of just 61 residents, told President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday that they wish to relocate to another island, preferably one close to the capital, Male’ City.

President Muizzu, who is on an eight-day tour of four atolls in central Maldives, visited Rakeedhoo on Saturday morning in his last stop in the V. Atoll leg of his tour.

During a community meeting with President Muizzu, many of the residents said they wish to be relocated to an island close to the capital, where essential services and infrastructure aren’t lacking.

Some said they wanted to move to K. Thulusdhoo, while others said they wanted to move to a new island reclaimed near Male’.

Everyone who spoke during the meeting, save for one resident, said they wished to relocate.

Responding to the appeals, President Muizzu said that he would proceed with relocation if at least 80 percent of Rakeedhoo’s residents are in favor of such a decisions.

He said that he will engage in formal efforts to assess how the people of Rakeedhoo stand on the subject.

He promised that if Rakeedhoo’s residents decide in favor of relocating, they will be relocated to an island that has a strong infrastructure and public service system.

“Not just the people who reside here. We also need the opinion of the people of this island who reside elsewhere. We do not want a majority vote of 50 percent. We want to proceed with relocation if a majority of 80 percent is in favor,” he said.

He also added that even if Rakeedhoo residents were to relocate, they would not need to shut down the guesthouses currently operating in the island.

Rakeedhoo has a registered population of some 360 islands. However, only 61 people remain in the island, many of them senior citizens.

Instead of relocating people from the island, the administration of President Muizzu’s predecessor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, had built a harbor and satellite school in the island, the latter of which started classes with just three students.