Newly-elected councilors take oath, Mayor Muizzu reveals ambitious action plan
Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the swearing in of councilors across some islands of the Maldives took place without an audience
Dr. Mohamed Muiz
Councilors and representatives elected in the Local Council and Women's Development Committee Elections of 2020 have assumed their oaths in ceremonies held across the country on Monday.
The councilors and representatives had been elected in the elections held in mid-April, despite the prevailing threat of Covid-19. As a pandemic-safety measures, the swearing in of councilors across some islands of the Maldives took place without an audience. In Male' City and a majority of other islands, the oath taking ceremony for newly-elected councilors and representatives took place virtually.
The Local Government Authority (LGA) had organized downside ceremonies for councilors assuming office as the Maldives' Covid-19 situation has been worsening significantly over the past few weeks. Aside from Male' City, a number of other residential islands and cities have been placed under monitoring with strict Covid-19 safety measures enacted to prevent transmission of the deadly infection, which has claimed 100 lives in the Maldives over the past year.
Deputy leader of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Male' City Mayor Dr. Muizzu was among the newly-elected officials to assume their oaths on Monday. He was administered his oath by Chief judge of the High Court Hadhif Hilmy, in the presence of his predecessor Mayor Shifa Mohamed at the Male' City Council Head Office. Other councilors of the Male' City Council joined the ceremony virtually in light of Covid-19.
In an address during the ceremony, Mayor Dr. Muizzu Adnan declared that the newly-elected Male' City Council would not be a political entity, and would work to provide public service to all residents irrespective of political differences.
Following his induction as Male' City Mayor, Dr. Muizzu led the fresh faces of the Male' City Council in the first meeting for the council's fourth term. During the meeting, Male' City Mayor Dr. Muizzu unveiled an ambitious strategic action plan for the days to come, with primary focus on housing, employment, improving the quality and safety of roads and other public spaces, digitizing services and other measures to boost the efficacy of Male' City Council, in addition to improving direct public access to councilors.
Mayor Dr. Muizzu went on to assert that that the Male' City Council would be the Solih administration's closest ally, so long as the government continues to cooperate with the council for the sake of the people.
In highlighting pressing concerns for residents of Male' City at this time, Mayor Dr. Muizzu called for the government to reconsider locating Male' Commercial Port to Gulhifalhu and not Thilafushi island. He asked that the Solih administration designate Gulhifalhu as the solution to Male' City's housing crisis, without the added challenges of establishing a commercial port in the island. Mayor Dr. Muizzu also urged the Solih administration to subsidize the finishing work for Hiyaa social housing units from the rent owed by tenants, as flat recipients would be forced to bear the costs of renovating the semi-finished spaces themselves before moving in.
