Councils ordered not to release statements on the price change of staple goods

Local Government Authority (LGA) has ordered the island and atoll councils not to agenda the price of staple goods at council meetings and release statements against the price change.

A circular issued by the LGA said that criticizing and speaking against government policies and issuing statements against different policies is not a power granted to Councils by the Constitution.

LGA said that such things are outside the conduct of the councils and is a crime under the Local Governance Law.

While LGA has issued such a circular, some Councils have raised concerns and issued statements. And some Island Councils has decided to use the people’s fund at the council to provide subsidy on staple goods.

The government pulled the subsidy on staple goods on 1 October and the prices have elevated 100 percent.

Subsidy-free, the price of one kilo of rice has risen from MVR 3.98 to MVR 7.96, the price of one kilo of sugar from MVR 4.50 to MVR 8, and price of one kilo of flour from MVR 3.50 to MVR 5.96.