President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has issued a presidential decree officially deciding to relocate the residents of Hdh. Hirimaradhoo to Hdh. Hanimaadhoo.
The President stated that the rationale behind amending the decree concerning the determination of inhabited islands in the Maldives is due to the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections, scheduled for April 4 next year. This date falls within the period during which the government will be actively carrying out the process of relocating Hirimaradhoo residents to Hanimaadhoo. According to Section 8(h) of the General Elections Act, when the Elections Commission compiles the voter registry, if the government designates an inhabited island as uninhabited and relocates its residents elsewhere, the commission must recognize the newly settled island as their primary constituency. Therefore, this amendment aims to facilitate the recognition of Hanimaadhoo as the electoral constituency for the people of Hirimaradhoo.
Under the powers vested in the President by Section 134(a) of the Maldives Decentralization Act, and following the completion of the resettlement and registration process in Hanimaadhoo, Hirimaradhoo will no longer be classified as an inhabited island. Consequently, the list of inhabited islands in the Maldives, as specified in the schedule of the Presidential Decree, has been updated to exclude Hirimaradhoo.
The decree further stipulates that this amendment will come into effect once the government formally announces the completion of the resettlement and registration of Hirimaradhoo residents in Hanimaadhoo.
The government’s decision to relocate the residents of Hdh. Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo aims to improve their living conditions and provide them with adequate housing and modern amenities. This decision was initially announced by the President during a meeting with the residents of Hirimaradhoo last August.
According to the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, every resident who currently owns a house in Hirimaradhoo will be provided with a new home in the designated relocation area of Hanimaadhoo. Furthermore, individuals who currently own land plots without buildings in Hirimaradhoo will also be eligible for housing.
The Ministry has assured that under this project, measures will be taken to ensure that no resident relocating from Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo is left without housing.
The President’s decision to relocate the people of Hirimaradhoo followed a formal request from the island’s community to the government, expressing their desire to move to another island.
