Councils: Changing compilation, decreasing councilors

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the number of councilors in Island Councils will be decreased and the compilation of Atoll Councils will be revised.

Speaking at a People's National Congress (PNC) gathering at PNC House last night, the President said that the councils set up under the Decentralization Act are presently more expansive than can be handled by the State.

He said that while a single President is elected to run an entire country, electing seven councilors to represent an island with a population of about 300 is a heavy burden on the State budget. Hence, he said, an amendment to change the compilation of councils will be presented to parliament.

"If a person elected as Council President is, if people want, referred to as an Island Chief like in the past...if a Council President and Vice President is elected to represent the people, that is sufficient for islands with small populations," the President asserted.

"Even if that number is increased for somewhat bigger islands, and further increased for cities, making the councils much smaller than they are at present is in the best interests of the people," he said.

Doing so would result in significant savings from State expenditure, and the savings can be spent on bringing further development for the people, the President highlighted. He proposed that the funds saved be used for housing, medicals, education, constructing mosques or other social projects.

The President further said that at present, Atoll Councils are elected in a manner that is ineffective.

"Every Council President is a member of the Atoll Council. Then there is an Atoll Council President. Atoll Council meetings are generally held only online because the President has to be in attendance physically," the President said.

The President said that based on these factors, amendments will be proposed to change the councils into smaller sized, more effective institutions.