MP Latheef: Water and Sanitation Systems Planned for Every Island by End of 2027

Dhihdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed of ruling party, People’s National Congress (PNC), announced in parliament today that water and sanitation systems will be established in every inhabited island of the Maldives by the end of 2027. Speaking on behalf of the government while submitting a bill to amend the Water and Sewerage Act, Latheef stressed the administration’s commitment to ensure all citizens have access to essential utilities.

Latheef criticised the previous government, saying that although large budgets were allocated under the MDP administration, many projects were either incomplete or never started. He encouraged fellow MPs to share the real situation in their constituencies during the debate.

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Debate on the bill drew sharp criticism from opposition MPs. Minority leader and South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil argued that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had previously served as a minister for seven years and has now been in power for nearly two years without finishing stalled projects. Nazil noted that while projects were initiated under the previous government despite the COVID-19 pandemic, most have remained on hold since the new administration took office.

Madaveli MP Mohamed Shameez highlighted delays in his constituency, saying the project in Nadalla island began 10 years ago but is still not complete, and that work in Madaveli has dragged on for 15 years, with only 15 percent finished.

Ruling party MPs defended the government, pointing to systemic issues predating President Muizzu’s term. Milandhoo MP Hassan Mufeed described water and sanitation as basic needs guaranteed by the constitution but lamented that for over 17 years these projects have repeatedly faced funding and implementation delays. He said the government’s aim is to complete the systems in all inhabited islands before 2028.

Opposition MP Ameen Faisal of Kanditheemu criticised the slow pace, saying only one island in his constituency has functioning water and sanitation services—and even that system faces technical problems.

Majority leader Ibrahim Falah, MP for Inguraidhoo, argued that the failure to complete these projects in the past 10 years lies with the MDP, which led the government for most of that time. He noted that President Muizzu had personally visited islands, consulted with councils, and identified each island’s priorities—a level of attention he said previous presidents had not shown. Falah also criticised the MDP government for awarding projects to companies without relevant experience, which, in some cases, led to faulty infrastructure requiring replacement.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, MP for Dhiggaru, revealed that the previous government had allocated MVR 619 million to FENAKA Corporation to build water and sanitation systems in 34 islands. Nazim claimed the money was disbursed to suppliers in advance but many projects were never completed. He said the Auditor General has pledged to submit a report by the end of August detailing where the funds went and who received them.

Other MPs also shared similar delays and challenges from their constituencies.

According to the government, the main purpose of the proposed bill is to extend the timeline for completing water and sanitation systems from the original five-year period set in the 2020 Act—whose deadline ends this year—to the end of 2027. The amendment also proposes removing clause 8(k), which requires the establishment of water testing laboratories to ensure the safety of publicly supplied water. Several other minor amendments are included.