Raa Atoll Council seeks talks with Pres. over plan to abolish atoll councils
Several councils have expressed wishes to meet with the president to voice their concerns
An earlier meeting the president held with members of Raa Atoll Council
The Raa Atoll Council has decided to meet with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to express their opposition and concerns regarding the government's policy to abolish councils as part of the changes being brought to the decentralization system.
The council made this decision at its fifth general meeting held on May 15. The issue was added to the agenda by Angolhitheem Council President Faisal Naseem. After discussing the matter at the meeting, Kinolhas Council President Ahmed Hussain proposed to make a trip to the capital, Malé City.
During the debate on the issue, President of the Kinolhas Council said that the government is working to strip away the powers granted by the Decentralization Act, which has been used to provide services closer to the people, and to concentrate all power in the president's hands.
In addition to this, last Tuesday, the Local Council Association (LCA) submitted a letter containing their concerns to the President's Office after repeatedly requesting to meet with the president regarding the challenges arising from the government's changes to the decentralization system, but receiving no response.
Speaking to Adhadhu after submitting a letter to the President’s Office, a representative of the Local Council Authority (LCA) said they have not received any responses to their emails. The representative noted that although official communications are sent electronically, they are often met with silence. LCA member Basheer added that repeated requests for meetings with the president, also sent via email, have gone unanswered.
Councils have been expressing concerns about the changes the government is bringing to the decentralization system and the president's statements related to the system. In this regard, speaking on the "Rayyithunnaa Eku" podcast broadcast every week, the president on May 15 said that councils are using the block grants provided from the state budget under the Decentralization Act to go to Bangkok, Thailand under the guise of experience visits.
While several councils plan to meet with the president to voice their concerns, he recently announced his intention to reduce the number of council members and Women's Development Committee (WDC) members, as well as abolish atoll councils, citing cost-cutting measures. The president added that he will pursue the necessary legal amendments to implement these changes.
