Removing two members from councils won't bring budget reduction: Niyaz

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's Decentralization Committee Chair Ali Niyaz has said that removing two members from island councils will not do enough in reducing budget. He, instead, proposed that reduction of non-elected positions would prove to be more effective.

In last night's MDP rally titled 'Laamarukazee Raajje' [Decentralized Maldives], former MP for Hulhumale' constituency Niyaz responded to some of the statements regarding councils made in President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's Republic Day speech.

Niyaz said that even if people with familial relations are in councils, they have been elected fairly through public elections.

"The President referred to council members in a manner, as if implying councilors are of no importance. That there are five members even in a population of 100. That most of the members are [the residents'] mothers, fathers or siblings," Niyaz said.

He went on to say that about 3000 people are appointed to positions in the government without an election, and a large part of the budget is spent on them.

"What I am asking is what is the reason for belittling people in elected positions," Niyaz said.

He said that the number of council members in an island are determined in consideration of the size of the population even at present.

As an example, he said that number of councilors in Baa atoll Fehendhoo with a lower population is much less than those in larger population islands such as Raa Atoll Dhuvaafaru or even Male' City Council.

He said that while about MVR 30,000 can be saved through removing two members from island councils, much more can be saved though decreasing the number of political directors who earn far bigger salaries.

Niyaz accused the government of refusing to implement this, and instead focus on removing council members with the intention of disempowering citizens.

Niyaz also criticized the government's decision to decrease council budgets. He maintains that sufficient budgets must be provided to councils which will allow them to carry out projects in their islands.

Niyaz went on to say that during campaigns, the President had visited 186 islands and promised to do much for the residents of those islands. However, the government has now decided to establish urban centres in seven islands and move those in islands with populations less than 500 to these hubs, he said.

Niyaz said that although support had been won from smaller islands through this, these things should be clearly laid out in the manifesto and publicly announced. He states that Maldives should be developed while retaining the way it has been formed naturally, and said that the Maldives, in its natural form, is ideally suitable for decentralized administration.