Jumhooree Party (JP) Leader Qasim Ibrahim has stated that the constitutional amendment to abolish atoll councils and reduce expenditure is a very important and appropriate reform. In a post shared on social media, Qasim Ibrahim said that based on the experience of implementing the decentralised system in the Maldives since 2011, it has become evident that atoll councils are not a necessary layer in the Maldivian context.
Qasim further stated that if decisions made by island councils are directly submitted to relevant government agencies and institutions, instead of going through atoll councils, the services desired by island councils will be expedited, state expenditure will decrease, and efficiency will increase. He specifically noted that the current government has established the Ministry of Cities, Administrative Divisions and Public Works, and this ministry is responsibly providing assistance to the Local Government Authority (LGA) and the councils. Therefore, Qasim added, the role of atoll councils in the decisions of island councils or city councils is generally not considered to exist. As such, Qasim has extended his congratulations and felicitations to the PNC parliamentary group for proposing and passing the bill in the Parliament to amend Articles 230 and 231 of the Constitution, thereby removing the component of atoll councils from these articles.
Qasim stated that he and the Jumhooree Party would provide their full cooperation and support for any such measure taken to strengthen national governance, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and advance the nation. Qasim also thanked the President for his ongoing efforts to strengthen the decentralised system.
