President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has met with the members of the fisher community from Vandhoo of Thaa Atoll. President Solih assured them that government places great value to develop and expanding the fishing industry and that the government would solve all the concerns they have regarding their livelihoods.
Speaking at the meeting, the president highlighted that the fisheries sector played a key role in resilience and recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, while all other major industries declined. The president listened to the concerns raised by the fisher community of Vandhoo and praised their invaluable service to the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting that the fisheries industry was the only economic activity that was uninterrupted during the pandemic.
Members of the fisher community shared their concerns about not getting higher rates for local fish products in the international market and difficulties with fish weighing due to the scarcity of facilities. Addressing their concerns, President Solih reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring fair and equitable rates for fisheries products. He shared details of his administration’s plans to expand the fishing industry and highlighted the efforts made to ensure local fish products gets premium rates in the international market. He also shared detailed plans to increase the number of Fish Aggregating Devices and the expansion of MIFCO facilities to enhance fish handling capacity, including the plan to re-operationalise Funaddoo of Thaa Atoll to accommodate the needs of the community.
Upon his visit to Vandhoo, President Solih toured historical sites on the island. As such, the president visited Vandhoo Ziyaaraiy Mosque, Vandhoo Old Friday Mosque and Vandhoo Loa Ziyaaraiy, an old mausoleum. During his visit to the sites, the president encouraged the development of such sites as tourist attractions and stressed on the importance of maintaining and protecting sites of historical and cultural significance.
Vandhoo Loa Ziyaaraiy is a mausoleum where the tombstones of Bodu Edhuruge Haajee Ismail Dhoru Vannaa Kilegefaanu, his wife and their two offsprings from Hoadehdhoo Island is located, according to historians. The adjoining Ziyaaraiy Mosque is built from coral stones and depicts the architectural ingenuity, carvings on coral stones and timber lacquer work techniques of early Maldivians and is believed to have been built in the 1700s.
Vandhoo Friday Mosque is one of the oldest mosques on Vandhoo Island. Documentation from the mosque dates the construction of the mosque to 1297, which dates it as old as 147 years. The pillars at the mosque also contain lacquer work from past eras.