The Cabinet has decided to hold a referendum on the 24th and 25th of this month to gather public opinion on restructuring the Addu City Council. This decision was made in response to a proposal submitted to the President by some parties in Addu City requesting changes to the current structure of the Addu City Council. During the Cabinet meeting, it was decided to make arrangements for a public referendum in accordance with the Public Referendum Act to determine the wishes and opinions of the people of Addu City.
The Cabinet has decided to include in the referendum a question on whether to establish separate councils for Addu Feydhoo, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo. Additionally, the referendum will ask whether to create a single council (Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council) to govern both Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo under one local authority. The referendum will be open to all registered voters in these islands and is scheduled to take place on either the 24th or 25th of this month, which falls on a weekend.
Furthermore, the Cabinet has decided to form a ministerial-level team led by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, which will include a technical team familiar with the Addu context. This team will be tasked with identifying potential changes to the jurisdictions of Addu City’s islands that may result from the referendum outcome. This work is to commence before the public referendum takes place.
