Concerns from two mayors regarding amendments to law

Mayor of Male' Adam Azim and Mayor of Kulhudhuffushi Mohamed Athif have expressed concerns that the amendment to include the abolishment of atoll councils in the Decentralization Act has brought councils "to a standstill".

During yesterday's press conference, Azim said that with the amendment to the Act, if an employee from the Male' City Council were to leave, they would have to go to the Local Government Authority (LGA) in order to find a replacement.

But if a service cannot be provided, the mayor and councilors are to take responsibility, said Azim.

He stated that the Male' City Council has requested for employees and are yet to receive a response.

"And so I believe that the amendment was brought about in order to make it more difficult for us to serve citizens," said Azim.

Azim stated the best system in Maldives is the Decentralization system and the council's small budget allows them to better serve citizens. He also stated that the expenditure of the funds given to the council is much more visible to the people.

"It is about four percent from state budget. Citizens do not know what happens to the other 96 percent," said Azim.

As per Azim, the amendment brought about to the Decentralization Act has seen the loss of decentralized councils' revenue. He also expressed concern due to councils having to get permission from LGA in order to rent out spaces.

He went on to say that councils should have the power to rent out places that are under their jurisdiction.

"It is my opinion that the amendments being brought about to the Decentralization Act are to irritate the citizens," said Azim.

The concerns expressed by Mayor of Kulhudhuffushi Mohamed Athif are councils being unable to conduct the same business as private companies and councils being unable to hire employees during the final year of their term.

"And yet, you can see the government open eyewear stores, taxi companies and we have even seen a construction company open. And our current President, when he was Mayor of Male' had opened a shop that sells trees. And yet, the Act was amended in order to stop councils from doing as such," said Athif.

While expressing their concerns, both mayors called on the government and the Parliament to revert the Decentralization Act back to what it was before or to bring about changes that are better than how it is currently.