Minister Adam Shareef exposed for false claims on transferring uninhabited islands to jurisdiction of inhabited ones!

Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has been caught in a blatant lie, claiming that the inclusion of uninhabited islands under the jurisdiction of inhabited ones began during the ongoing presidency of Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Minister Shareef, who is generally known to greatly flatter Muizzu, said at a press conference held at the President's Office on Thursday that previously uninhabited islands were only available to a certain class of people, but now after President Muizzu came to power, they have started to include uninhabited islands within the jurisdiction of inhabited islands as well.

"Until now, we have been hearing that uninhabited islands were given to certain classes of people, and there is no instance in recent history where an uninhabited island was given in a way that benefits the people of an island," Minister Adam Shareef Umar.

The minister of the first ministry created in the Maldives that conflicts with the work of the Local Government Authority (LGA) further said, "However, after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu came to power, we are seeing that some uninhabited islands are being included within the jurisdiction of islands, especially inhabited islands."

The minister was referring to the government's decision on 18 February 2025 to designate "Ufulandhoo" in Raa atoll as part of Maduvvari in that atoll, and "Thaavathaa" in Raa Atoll as part of Meedhoo in the same atoll.

"This is not something that has happened in the recent history of the Maldives, especially to empower councils and citizens. It is President Dr. Muizzu who has started to arrange some things that were previously state assets in a way that benefits the people," Minister Adam Shareef Umar.

While the minister has stated that the government had not given uninhabited islands to be included in the jurisdiction of inhabited islands in this manner in the recent history of the Maldives, when the jurisdiction of islands was determined under the Decentralization Act, many uninhabited islands were included in the jurisdiction of inhabited islands.

The previous administration of the now main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) did this through amendments to the law, establishing a legal principle and under that principle.

When the 19th People’s Majlis assembly determined the jurisdiction of inhabited islands in the 8th Amendment to the Decentralization Act, it stated that the jurisdiction of an inhabited island council is the island and 700 meters from the island's shore.

The law also states that if an uninhabited island or part of an uninhabited island in a separate lagoon is included in the jurisdiction of an island council, that uninhabited island should be determined to be included in the jurisdiction of that council.

While the minister has blatantly lied about something so evident, the biggest difference seen in handing over uninhabited islands then and now is that during the former MDP administration, uninhabited islands were handed over according to legal principles and norms. However, now it is being "done" at the president's discretion when he sees fit.