Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif urged President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to reconsider and modify the 16th amendment to the Decentralization Act, cautioning that the alterations pose risks to local councils.

Mayor Athif highlighted that Kulhudhuffushi, the most populated island in the northern area and an essential economic center, is crucial for delivering daily services to residents throughout the north. He indicated that the city’s most notable advancements in the last four years have arisen from decentralized development and voiced worries that the recent amendment may jeopardize that progress.

Mayor Athif emphasized that decentralization is the best method for promoting national development, asserting that island communities are no longer dependent on ministries in Malé for essential services.

He disclosed that the Kulhudhuffushi City Council performed an extensive examination of the 16th amendment to the Decentralization Act and forwarded its conclusions to the Decentralization Committee, Members of Parliament, the pertinent minister, and the President’s Office for review.

Mayor Athif voiced significant worry regarding the 16th amendment, highlighting that it limits councils from performing specific tasks in the last year of their term. “It is very concerning that this amendment obstructs critical efforts in the final year of a council’s term,” he stated. “I earnestly call on President Muizzu to amend this incorrect change, representing all the cherished citizens of Kulhudhuffushi.”