Discussions to issue diplomatic passports for councillors

Local Government Authority (LGA) today decided to discuss the provision of diplomatic passports to local councillors with Maldives Immigration.

Local Government Minister Adam Shareef said that discussions to provide diplomatic passports to mayors, atoll and island council presidents and members has been on going for a while.

The suggestion was proposed to LGA by Thinadhoo Council and LGA's board, during its meeting today, approved the decision to hold talks with Immigration on the matter.

Minister Shareef said that the purpose of providing official or diplomatic passports for councillors is to empower councils and give them their deserving status as they are also public elected officials.

Diplomatic passports are currently issued to the heads of the three government estates, Supreme and High Court judges, Chief judges of lower courts, ministers, state ministers and other designations of the same level as well as members of independent commissions, parliament members, the heads of security bodies, their spouses and their children below the age of 18.