Parliament committee green-lights city status for islands exceeding 10,000 residents

Parliament’s National Security Committee has today passed an amendment allowing city status to be awarded to islands, districts or wards with populations exceeding 10,000 residents.

The Decentralization Act’s clause, which currently sets the limit at 25,000 residents, was amended with votes from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Jumhoory Party (JP) MPs.

The amendment will come into force once it is approved by the parliament floor.

If passed, the amendment will also require the next local council elections to be held with the amendment in force. The island atoll of Fuvahmulah, which currently has 11,900 inhabitants, is the only island that will be granted city status if the amendment passes. The Local Council Election is set for 18 January 2014.

The amendment was proposed to parliament by Fuvahmulah-central MP Shifaq Mufeed in 2011.