President ratifies amendment to reduce Councilors

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has ratified today the amendment to the Law of Local Council Election to reduce the number of Councilors to three at the islands with a population less than 3000 people.

The amendment passed from the Parliament says that at leaset five members should be elected to the Island Council at islands with a registered population of 3000 and above.

The law previously requires five elected councilors at islands with a registered population before 3000.

The newly ratified amendment states that nine council members would be elected at the islands with a registered population of over 10,000. But at Fuvahmulah, three members would be elected to the Council at every ward.

Parliament passed the amendment after voiding Article 7-C of the Law which stated that a seven-member council would be elected at islands with a registered population between 3000 and 10,000.

The amendment says that that while Atoll Councils are elected at every constituency, with Atoll constituencies over two would be electing two councilors to Atoll Council from each of those consitutencies.

Amendment also states that Atoll constituencies with two would elect Councilors to the Atoll Council from the entire atoll.