Committee to finalize bill authorizing seizure of council lands within five days!

The Parliament's Decentralization Committee has decided to complete its review by next Sunday of a proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act, which would allow the government to reclaim land and areas under council jurisdiction for national development projects.

During the committee meeting held on Tuesday, Ibrahim Didi, the Member of Parliament for the Kolamaafushi constituency, proposed that the work on the bill be completed within five days. The member recommended setting a deadline of 12:00 p.m. this coming Sunday to finalize all proceedings related to the bill.

During the meeting, Mohamed Niushad, the MDP Member of Parliament for the Keyodhoo constituency, proposed a deadline of the 30th of next month to complete work on the bill. He further recommended summoning representatives from the Local Government Authority (LGA), local council associations, and political parties to the committee to gather their expert opinions and feedback.

However, MP Niushad's proposal failed to pass, receiving support from only two members. The members who backed the motion were Abdulla Sodiq, the MDP representative for the North Hithadhoo constituency, and Abdurrahman, the independent member for the Meedhoo constituency.

During the committee meeting, the proposal submitted by the Member for Kolamaafushi constituency, Ibrahim Didi, was approved by a majority of the members in attendance.

The bill has sparked widespread public concern. Critics point out that the proposed amendments would ultimately strip power from democratically elected councilors and transfer it to the Cabinet. In response, a petition has been submitted to the People’s Majlis calling for the withdrawal of the bill.

The petition states that these amendments would allow for punitive measures to be taken against elected councilors, who represent the people, on the grounds of opposing or failing to cooperate with decisions made by the Cabinet.

Furthermore, the petition highlights that the proposed amendments would restrict the public's right to have a say in their own affairs. It asserts that these changes contradict both the letter and spirit of the Decentralization Act by undermining the authority of the people, from whom all power originates. Consequently, the petition calls for the immediate withdrawal of the bill.

Expressing their concern and calling for the withdrawal of the amendment, the island councils of B. Fehendhoo and B. Thulhaadhoo have both unanimously passed resolutions demanding the bill be rescinded. In their respective resolutions, the two councils stated that the proposed amendments directly contravene the principle of popular sovereignty enshrined in Article 4 of the Constitution. They further asserted that the changes undermine the objectives of decentralized administration as outlined in Chapter 8, as well as the democratic progress the Maldives has achieved.