LGA obstructs joint development efforts by Haa Dhaalu Atoll islands; Mayor vows to continue the initiative!
The Local Government Authority (LGA) has obstructed efforts to establish a joint development board for Haa Dhaalu Atoll, claiming the move violates the Decentralization Act. In response to the decision, Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif asserted that they will not halt their efforts, maintaining that the initiative is being pursued in the best interest of the people.
Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif holds an online meeting with the Council Presidents of the islands in Haa Dhaalu Atoll. | Kulhudhuffushi city council
The Local Government Authority (LGA) has obstructed an initiative led by Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif to establish a collaborative board comprising the islands of Haa Dhaalu Atoll.
In a letter addressed to Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif regarding the matter, the Local Government Authority (LGA) stated that opposing the decision to form a representative board for Haa Dhaalu Atoll islands and attempting to establish a separate independent board within the atoll contradicts the core principles of the recent amendments to the Decentralization Act.
In this regard, the Mayor of Kulhudhuffushi City, Mohamed Athif, issued a stern response to the Local Government Authority (LGA) via a social media post.
In the post, Mayor Athif stated that the objective of the Kulhudhuffushi City Council and the island councils of Haa Dhaalu Atoll is not to replicate the services provided by the Atoll Council or the Local Government Authority (LGA). Instead, he emphasized that the initiative aims to identify collaborative opportunities among the councils to drive regional development and achieve tangible results, ultimately benefiting the entire nation and its citizens.
Furthermore, Mayor Athif noted that while the LGA has ordered the cessation of these activities, the authority’s own performance evaluation criteria for councils currently award marks to encourage collaborative efforts between local bodies.
The statements made in this letter contradict their own established principles. We will not be intimidated by such threats, nor will we be deterred from our efforts. Our work on behalf of the people of this region will continue unabated. #BoduthiladhunmathiForwardMayor of Kulhudhuffushi City, Mohamed Athif
The decision by the islands of Haa Dhaalu Atoll to form a collective board comes at a time when significant changes to the decentralization system have led to the dissolution of atoll councils. The government's move to abolish these councils has resulted in substantial challenges for various island communities.
