MP Gapo questions legality of Hirimaradhoo council dissolution as residents remain on island

Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo) has raised concerns over the dissolution of the H.Dh. Hirimaradhoo Island Council, alleging that the move violates constitutional and decentralization laws.

In a post on X, Gapo claimed that residents of Hirimaradhoo were segmented to vote as Hanimaadhoo residents without officially relocating.

“The decision of the people of Hirimaradhoo to vote as Hanimaadhoo residents without transferring them to Hanimaadhoo is in violation of the Constitution and the Decentralization Act,” he wrote.

However, Hirimaradhoo councilor Ahmed Shareef told Sun that no formal notification had been received regarding the dissolution.

“The election office just instructed us to proceed under this rule, and we’re handling the administrative tasks accordingly. But no official source has informed us,” he said.

Hirimaradhoo, one of the least populated islands in the Maldives, has seen significant migration. Although the registered population is 589, only around 200 people currently reside on the island.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has been contracted to provide housing and municipal services for those relocating to Hanimaadhoo over the next six years.

In November, Buildtech was awarded MVR 4.1 million to establish a waste and resource management center on the island.