Island councils to get free meeting space in Male’ to connect with island communities

The Male' City Council, on Wednesday, has approved a decision to provide free venues for island councils to conduct meetings with their respective constituents residing in the capital city.

The decision was made during the 9th official general meeting of the fifth term of the Male' City Council.

Presenting the proposal, Mayor of Male' City Adam Azim highlighted that a large number of residents from various islands currently live in the Male' area. He noted that island councils often face significant challenges in securing suitable venues to meet with these residents. Mayor Azim further pointed out that renting private spaces in Male' is costly, creating a financial burden for island councils that must allocate funds from their budgets for such arrangements.

The Mayor stated that supporting such engagements would help strengthen the connection between island councils and their constituents, particularly given the large population of island residents living in the capital.

Mayor Azim further noted that allowing the use of public spaces managed by the Male' City Council, including parks and squares, along with providing hospitality services such as refreshments, would contribute towards establishing Male' as a more welcoming and accommodating city.

The proposal was seconded by Deputy Mayor Meekail Mohamed Riyaz. Supporting the motion, West Maafannu Councilor Rilwan Ali described the decision as a positive step that would bring satisfaction to the many island residents living in Male'. He added that the initiative would provide residents in the capital with an opportunity to share their views on development projects and other matters related to their home islands.

South Galolhu Councilor Ismail Haleem also emphasized the importance of implementing the initiative through a structured framework. He called for the development of a policy outlining the criteria and scheduling arrangements for the allocation of these venues.

The decision was unanimously approved by all councilors present at the meeting.

The Council stated that the initiative would strengthen ties between island councils and the Male' City Council while making it easier for councils to engage with and maintain relationships with their constituents residing in the capital.

The decision follows a similar resolution passed last Wednesday during the 8th meeting of the Council's fifth term, where free venues in Male' was approved for wedding receptions for low-income couples. That initiative was also part of Mayor Azim’s commitment to providing social assistance and greater convenience for residents of Male'.

The Council's Financial Budget Committee and Social Service Committee are currently working on developing the necessary regulations for implementing these decisions.