MDP believes government is attempting to diminish council powers

Leaders of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) criticized the government's decision to decrease the number of local council members, and described as efforts to weaken councils.

Last night's session of MDP's serial panel discussions focused on decentralization.

MDP's new Vice President Hisaan Hussain said that the government is attempting to 'size' the councils, alleging that they are reducing council member numbers in a bid to undermine the council's authorities.

"But we do not accept that, and god willing, we will not allow for that to happen," Hisaan asserted.

The parliament, in which the ruling party holds a super majority, is currently discussing actions that can be taken to deal with the extensive expenses incurred on the decentralization system due to the high numbers of members in councils.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said in July that for islands with a population of less than 3000, it is sufficient to have 3 councilors. He noted that many changes need to be brought to streamline the services being provided by councils, adding that relevant authorities are working on implementing these changes.

"One of these three members can be a representative of women, a women's President, and one can be a representative of youth, a Youth President. With these three members there, including a Council President, one of the others can serve as a Vice President," the President opined.

He maintains that if the councils are compiled in this manner, then it would have representation of the youth and women included as well.

Shamau Shareef, who served as a Deputy Minister of Health during MDP's administration, said that government's intention to weaken councils must be deeply considered by the rest. He states that, if this were allowed to happen, the country may once again revert to an autocratic system.

MDP's former Chairperson Ali Niyaz dismissed the government's concerns that the decentralization system is proving to be costly. He said that even if approximately MVR 15 million is spent on all councilors in a month, a much higher value of MVR 60 million is spent on political appointees within that same duration.

"So whose expenses are higher here? Does cost reduction need to start with councilors? This is not really about bringing down expenses at all. Like [Hisaan] just said, they are trying to 'size' the councils, to strip them of their powers," Niyaz said.

"Just having someone appointed in whatever way the leader wants, and for them to decide things regarding islands, that is not what this system entails."

Niyaz said that the system where atoll chiefs in Male' instruct Island Chiefs, and they do their bidding is no longer acceptable.

He asserted that when the State Budget is at MVR 30 billion, it is unreasonable to consider spending MVR 1 billion out of this on administrative running of 184 islands as high.