Progress in atolls can only be achieved if government decentralizes power and facilitates opportunities instead of intervening in every matter: Faisal

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has stated that progress for the Maldives' atolls can only be achieved by decentralizing power and establishing a framework that empowers local authorities, rather than the central government intervening in every matter.

In a social media post, Faisal noted that while the government has decided to abruptly remove the Addu Savaaheli area from the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council, hundreds of beds are currently being developed within the Feydhoo Tourism Zone. He emphasized that the island's development as a tourist facility would bolster Addu's tourism sector, generate dollar-denominated income for residents, enhance economic benefits, and drive overall progress for the atoll.

Faisal stated that the central government must empower local councils and facilitate opportunities that allow residents to derive maximum benefit from their respective atolls. He emphasized that progress across the Maldives' atolls can only be achieved if the central government refrains from intervening in every matter and instead establishes a framework that enables local autonomy through decentralization. He further noted that the growth of the tourism sector in Addu and throughout the country is a direct result of private sector efforts. Faisal added that whenever the government attempts to involve itself directly in the tourism industry, it consistently faces significant losses and failure.

The removal of Savaaheli from the jurisdiction of Addu City Council comes at a time when the council had already opened a bidding process to find a developer to transform the island into an entertainment and recreation facility. While President Muizzu’s decree stated that the decision to remove the island from the city's jurisdiction was to facilitate its use for tourism purposes, the document did not provide any further details regarding the specific plans for the site.

The public is heavily criticizing the government, asserting that seizing islands without any consultation while the local council was planning a vital development project for Addu City is a major blow to the region's economic growth. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has also expressed its concern, describing the removal of Savaaheli from Addu City's jurisdiction as a disgraceful act intended to obstruct the city's development.