Speaker and Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that restriction does not bring progress.
Speaking at the “Viyavathi Raajje” conference on Sunday, Nasheed said that there never in the country’s history has restriction brought progress and that the government aims to distribute powers and responsibilities among the people and that many of the work of ministries have been taken on by local councils, as part of its vision to empower local councils.
Further, Nasheed said the government aims to find a way to empower local councils in a way that does not hinder the National Development Plan and the government’s strategic action plan.
The speaker went on to add that the aim was to amend the decentralization act, which has since been done.
In addition, the speaker said that the government highly prioritizes women empowerment and human rights protection.
We are here to hold discussions that will bring vast developments to the livelihoods of Maldivians. These discussions are to implement one of the government’s biggest pledges. Amendments to the Decentralization act.”Speaker Nasheed
Nasheed added that it is important to create councils that are just and active, councils that people can rely on.
Also speaking at the event, UNDP’s Resident Representative Akiko Fujii stated that Maldives has made outstanding progress over the course of the last 30 years. As such, Maldivian people live 17 years longer and have three years more education and are more than double what they used to do 30 years ago. In particular Maldivians enjoy the highest of average life expectancy out of all the nine south-Asian countries covered in the report, which UNDP published last week.
I believe the solutions for sustainable and equitable island development is entirely in your hands. Your roles and responsibilities as local leaders are critical at this time of reforms and should go beyond just maintaining roads and harbors. Your community’s ambitions and expectations are much higher for bolder actions.”UNDP Resident Representative Fujii
She added that world leaders are meeting at the UN Climate talks in Madrid, and have restressed the urgency for climate actions. She went on to express her hope for Maldives local government’s efforts, local climate actions.
The new amendment to the Decentralization Act was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday.
