Council membership to be cut down to 3 for populations below 3K

Vilingili MP Saud Hussain has proposed an amendment to law on local councils so membership of local councils in islands with a population of less than 3,000 people are limited to three people.

The third reading of the bill was carried out during the Majlis sitting on Tuesday.

An amendment to Majlis rules and regulation authorizes the Majlis Speaker or Deputy Speaker to call for a vote to decide whether to carry out the preliminary debate on the bill the day it is proposed to the Majlis if it is necessary to expedite a bill.

MP Saud’s amendment says that three council members will be elected in islands with populations of less than 3,000 people, five council members in islands with populations above 3,000 people, nine council members in islands with populations above 10,000, and three council members for each council in each district of Gn. Fuvahmulah.

Saud proposed to omit Article 7(c) of Local Council Act – which calls for seven council members to be elected in islands with populations between 3,000 to 10,000 people.