MDP: Govt. aiming to weaken councils and distribute jobs to win votes

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) states the government is in view of limiting the powers of local councils with the amendment recently proposed to the Decentralization Act, and winning the upcoming local council election by distributing jobs.

An amendment was submitted to the Decentralization Act last Sunday proposes several restrictions for local councils in the final year of term, mandating to follow policies set forth by Finance Ministry and the Local Government Authority (LGA) in recruiting staff for council, leasing and granting land, lagoon and reef under council jurisdiction and initiating new development projects which is not already specified in island development plan.

MDP held a press conference regarding the matter on Tuesday during which the party’s Decentralization Committee’s chairperson Ali Niyaz accused the government of submitting the bill without any prior research, with the intent to financially weaken local councils.

Niyaz, noting the amendment would require councils to stall development projects in the final year, said the provision conflicts with articles of the Act.

“The island development plan is formulated for a period of five years, not four years. If they wish to pass this amendment, we urge to amend that article as well. That island development plans should be formulated for a period of four years,” he said.

Niyaz said the government has commenced campaign efforts for the upcoming local council elections. He added that the primary concern raised during ministers' visits to the islands is the stalled development projects.

“The government’s current line of thinking is to freeze councils, tie their hands and legs to bar themselves from any development work, and come onto islands and distribute jobs to win the election,” he said.

Niyaz further said it would be easier to accept the amendment at hand if it applied to other elections as well.

Main opposition MDP has decided on several actions against the amendment. They include:

• Sharing concerns regarding the amendment in the form of a press lease  
• Protesting against the amendment in collaboration with the councils
• Holding discussions with lawmakers or senior members of the government
• Peaceful protest if the issue remains unresolved
• Meeting with citizens to raise awareness regarding the amendment 

The main opposition, MDP, has consistently opposed the government’s proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act. The government, which holds a supermajority in the 20th parliamentary assembly, has already used its majority to pass several controversial changes to the Act—amendments that the MDP views as efforts to undermine the decentralization system.

Major councils such as Gan Council and Kulhudhuffushi Council have also voiced out support against the amendment currently at hand.