Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that if his administration had remained in power, every citizen across the Maldives would have access to essential public services, today.

Speaking at the “Hoarafushi Day” ceremony on Thursday night, Solih reflected on the challenges his government faced when he took office, noting that developing the entire nation had been a formidable task.

He expressed concern that, even as the country entered the 21st century, many Maldivians still lacked access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities.

Solih recalled that his pledge to provide clean water and sewerage systems for all islands was once met with skepticism, but he emphasized that such initiatives were fundamental to improving quality of life across the country.

He highlighted the developments in Hoarafushi, including roads, the airport and the terminal, stating that such progress did not occur by chance, but through a deliberate effort to foster balanced growth across the atolls.

According to Solih, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) development strategy sought to transform the Maldives into a truly archipelagic nation.

He observed that, historically, the country’s economy and growth had been concentrated in the capital Malé City, particularly after the introduction of tourism.

Solih stressed that the challenges faced by the capital could not be resolved through the development of Malé alone, adding that his vision for national progress was rooted in the need to uplift all regions of the country.