Opposition leader and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has criticised the government’s proposed Urban Development Bill, warning that it would effectively dismantle the decentralisation system in the Maldives.
Speaking at a meeting of the MDP National Assembly on Wednesday, the former Economic Minister expressed concern that the bill aims to centralise powers currently held by local councils, which were granted during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration.
Ismail emphasised that the bill, currently being debated in parliament, would strip local councils of significant financial and economic decision-making powers. He stated, “The bill now in parliament is actually going to kill the entire decentralisation system.”
Several councillors have also voiced their concerns, echoing Ismail’s sentiment that the bill threatens to reverse the progress made in empowering local councils over the past five years.
Highlighting the importance of local governance, Ismail asserted that the role of councillors is crucial in maintaining democracy in the Maldives. He described the reduction of their powers as an attack on the entire democratic system.