Ex-MP stresses necessity of ministry for local government

A ministry for local government is necessary to ensure decentralization of administrative power in the Maldives, says Mohamed Shareef, former parliamentarian for the Thaa Atoll.

Shareef said in an interview to RaajjeTV on Sunday night that he does not believe the authority mandated to local government councils by the constitution and legislature, has been fully given to them.

The former lawmaker said that establishing a ministry through which to regulate the Local Government Authority and atoll, island, and city councils is one of the surest ways in which to ensure said councils are given authority to govern in their jurisdictions.

Shareef further said that he had participated in deliberations over the extent of decentralization, and its extent in the constitution. He also said that he introduced a bill on development through local government, although his tenure ended while it was in committee review.

The Maldives Decentralization Act was ratified in 2010, which gave unprecedented authority to local government councils.

At the moment, island councils have less control over their resources and services than when the law was passed, although President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to ensure their autonomy.