Major cut in household costs, wealth creation planned for Wakenaam

President Irfaan Ali on Friday pledged to remove household burdens and create wealth for residents of Wakenaam, outlining a series of investments aimed at transforming the island’s economy and quality of life.

Speaking to hundreds at a community meeting, Ali said the government would cover key costs for health, water and education, enabling families to retain more income, while expanding opportunities for homeownership and upgrades.

“We want every family on this island to have the opportunity to own and upgrade their homes, to live with dignity, and to build wealth for future generations,” Ali said.

The plan includes a modern “transport ecosystem” integrating river and road links, storage facilities and value-added processing to lower costs and support farmers, pensioners and children. Farmers will benefit from subsidies, tax relief, duty-free agricultural machinery, crop diversification support, and expanded crop insurance for rice growers.

Since taking office in 2020, the PPP/C government has invested heavily in Wakenaam. Projects include a $50 million well providing 24-hour clean water, a solar farm with battery storage, and over $2 billion in concrete roads set to cover the island by 2025.

Other upgrades include the $84 million Arthurville Primary School, nearly 100 new streetlights, and improved healthcare and public safety facilities.

“Five years ago, people were selling their land. Today, they are racing to buy it back. That is the confidence we’ve built in our economy and in your future,” Ali said.

A section of the gathering at the public meeting