The Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, Adam Shareef, has detailed the ministry’s efforts to enhance the role of Atoll Councils, aiming to grant them greater authority and foster economic development.
In an exclusive interview with local media, Minister Shareef highlighted the current limitations imposed by the Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act on Atoll Councils’ decision-making powers, acknowledging the need for significant reforms.
Minister Shareef affirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the powers of Atoll Councils and delegating management responsibilities for the atolls to these councils. This move is expected to have a profound economic impact, as it aims to promote more localised and effective governance, ultimately boosting economic activities within the atolls.
At present, Atoll Councils are composed of the Presidents of Island Councils within each respective atoll. This structure often leads to a focus on individual island development rather than a comprehensive approach to atoll-wide development—a dynamic Minister Shareef is determined to change. He emphasised the importance of Atoll Councils uniting their efforts towards holistic development, aligned with the aspirations of the entire atoll community.
By clarifying and amplifying the responsibilities of Atoll Councils, Minister Shareef believes that their mandate can be significantly bolstered, leading to more robust economic planning and implementation at the local level. He underscored the need for conscientious collaboration between councils and local communities to ensure that development initiatives are both inclusive and effective.
In a significant move towards this goal, Minister Shareef announced his readiness to introduce legislative amendments aimed at empowering Atoll Councils. These amendments are anticipated to provide councils with the authority needed to make decisions that can drive economic growth and development across the atolls.
Additionally, Minister Shareef revealed that the National University of Maldives is conducting a comprehensive study on the country’s decentralisation system at the ministry’s request. This study is expected to identify key challenges within the current system and propose effective solutions. The findings of this study will be instrumental in shaping the legislative amendments and in ensuring that the decentralisation process supports sustainable economic development.
Through these initiatives, Minister Shareef aims to strengthen the effectiveness of Atoll Councils, thereby enhancing local governance structures and economic resilience across the Maldives. By empowering local councils, the government hopes to stimulate economic activities, improve public services, and ensure that development is more attuned to the needs and aspirations of local communities.
The proposed changes are expected to have a ripple effect on the local economy, encouraging investment, improving infrastructure, and creating job opportunities within the atolls. As the Maldives continues to develop its decentralisation policies, the empowerment of Atoll Councils stands out as a crucial step towards achieving balanced and sustainable economic growth.
