Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen has announced that, starting next month, license fees obtained through island councils will be directly accepted by the councils themselves.
Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen has announced that, starting next month, license fees obtained through island councils will be directly accepted by the councils themselves.
Speaking at the signing ceremony for the agreement to commence RTL ferry service in three northern atolls, the minister highlighted that despite councils offering license issuing services, fees were previously processed through the Transport Ministry's portal, hindering direct payment to the councils.
This process discrepancy led to complaints regarding the non-receipt of license fees by the councils.
Ameen emphasized the government's commitment to empowering councils and ensuring they receive their full budget allocation, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's objectives. Failure to distribute dues to councils could lead to significant issues, he cautioned, prompting the decision to allow councils to receive license fees directly.
"The councils will be authorized to collect fees starting May 1. With this change, we aim to resolve any existing issues and streamline fee collection for councils' operations," Ameen stated.
Minister Ameen also addressed the challenges faced by small boat owners in adhering to safety certificate renewal requirements. To alleviate this burden, the validity of safety certificates will be extended to five years, with ongoing annual boat safety monitoring.
Despite these changes, the minister assured that boat safety standards will continue to be rigorously monitored.
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