The PPM-PNC presidential candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has promised to grant city status to Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo if he is elected to Office.
Thinadhoo Council and residents have repeatedly requested the government to give the island city status.
Speaking at a campaign event in Thinadhoo, Dr. Muizzu stressed that Thinadhoo fully deserves city status by all measures. He deemed it unacceptable for an island meeting city criteria to lack the designation due to population and promised to confer the city status to Thinadhoo if he is elected to office.
Dr. Muizzu said the main opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, prioritized the development of Thinadhoo under his rule. he criticized President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for delays in fulfilling pledges after taking office.
The presidential hopeful said if he is elected, he would expand further expand the land area of Thinadhoo and expedite the completion of the fish factory promised by the current government.
Acknowledging the need for improvement in healthcare services on the island, Muizzu affirmed his commitment to building a tertiary hospital if he is elected. Regarding the fisheries sector, he said the fishermen of Thinadhoo would "reap the sweetest fruits" under his fisheries policy.
According to the Decentralization Act, city status is granted when the combined registered population of the islands under a council reaches 10,000. However, the current registered population of Thinadhoo falls short of meeting this requirement.
The Decentralization Act states that the President has the power to grant city status with certain conditions. The most recent city status was given to HDh. Kulhudhuffushi on January 1, 2020.
Currently, there are four cities in the Maldives. They are Male', Addu, and Fuvahmulah, and Kulhudhuffushi.
Originally, the Decentralization Act required a registered population of 25,000 across the islands under a council for city status to be granted. However, President Mohamed Nasheed's administration later amended the Act, reducing this threshold to 10,000 to grant city status to Fuvahmulah.
