Fuvahmulah Council opposes decentralization bill over interference concerns

The Fuvahmulah City Council has formally requested the withdrawal of proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act, asserting that their enactment would impede councils from fulfilling their mandated responsibilities.

These five legislative changes, put forth by the government, encompass provisions that could curtail the authority of councils in employee recruitment, the leasing of lagoons and land within their jurisdiction, and the implementation of development projects.

In a public statement, the Fuvahmulah City Council articulated that the proposed amendments are designed to undermine the empowering clauses of the law, which facilitate the decentralized administration of councils, enable their utilization of allocated financial freedoms and resources, and foster development initiatives. The council further stated that these amendments would obstruct the achievement of their five-year plans and operational duties, thereby hindering efforts to optimally utilize resources for the benefit of the populace.

Consequently, the council has urged the withdrawal of the amendments and has appealed to Members of Parliament to vote against the bill should it proceed without withdrawal.

Under the proposed amendments, councils would be prohibited from levying rent for land or structures designated for fundamental public services and would receive revenue subject to state tax deductions, provided they are not in arrears for public service payments exceeding six months.

Both the Kulhudhuffushi City Council and the Laamu Atoll Gan Council have also formally called for the repeal of these recent amendments to the Decentralization Act.

Fayyaz Ismail, Chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has contended that the proposed amendments would erode the financial autonomy of councils, leading to the collapse of the decentralization system and compelling councils into subservience to the central government. Abdullah Shahid, President of the MDP, has further asserted that the current government's proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act aims to recentralize the financial and natural resources of councils, effectively subjugating the citizenry.

Notably, in a departure from standard parliamentary procedure for soliciting public feedback on legislative proposals, the amendment bill to the Decentralization Act has been allotted a mere 19 hours for public commentary.