City Councils have reported that no venue had been set for swearing in the newly elected Councilors, even though they have to be sworn in before June 3rd.
Male’ City Council had said that Housing Ministry had informed the ceremony cannot be held in Dharubaaruge.
City Council Member Shamaau Shareef said that Housing Ministry first allotted Rannabandeyri Maalan in Dharubaaruge for the ceremony and requested a fee of MVR 13,000. This, he said was later changed to Faashanaa Maalan and had asked the Council to pay the fee in cash.
Shamaau added that the decision not to give Faashanaa Maalan for the ceremony came suddenly.
Addu City Mayor Abdullah Sodiq (Sobe) also said that a venue had not been allotted for swearing in new Councilors in Addu. He said the Council had applied for a venue from the 16th of this month, to no avail. He added that in Addu the possible venues were Sharafuddin and Irushaadhiyyaa schools, neither have been made available.
Fuvahmulah City Councilors also reported the same issue.
In the Local Council Elections, 12 out of the 13 seats in the Male’ City Council were won by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The Party had also claimed all the seats in Addu City and two out of the three City Council seats in Fuvahmulah.
