Male’ City Council spends over MVR 1 million on two town hall meetings

The Male’ City Council spent over MVR 1 million on two town hall meetings it held this year

The spending was disclosed by the council in response to a petition filed by Ahmed Aiham, who had challenged Mayor Adam Azim in the April elections, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

According to the council, it spent MVR 567,839.34 on a town hall meeting in February, and another MVR 585,137.34 on a second meeting in July.

The total spending on the two meetings, which usually last two to three hours, amounts to MVR 1.15 million.

February meeting:

• Total cost: MVR 567,839.34
• Event management: MVR 360,000
• Video presentation: MVR 135,000
• TV live: MVR 34,607
• Banner printing: MVR 30,024
• Book printing: MVR 8,208

July meeting:

• Total cost: MVR 585,137.34
• Event management: MVR 360,000
• Video presentation: MVR 129,600
• TV live: MVR 34,607
• Photo and videography: MVR 18,000
• Banner installation: MVR 5,702
• Book printing: MVR 2,235

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) had held a supermajority in the council when the February meeting was held, while the July meeting took place after the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) took control of the council in the local council elections held on April 4.

The law requires the councils to hold townhall meetings at least twice a year, to listen to concerns of the public and discuss important matters.