MDP lawmakers submit 2 resolutions to empower councils

The Parliament, this Sunday, is scheduled to hear two resolutions designed to empower atoll and island councils.

The two separate resolutions were submitted to the Parliament by ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentarians; Ungoofaaru MP Ibrahim Waheed and Hulhumale’ MP Ali Niyaz.

Ibrahim Waheed’s resolution is designed to financially empower local councils, while Ali Niyaz’s resolution is designed to establish the jurisdiction of individual residential islands and establish a mechanism whereby income generated from local resources go directly into the islands.

Both resolutions point out the failure to reach the underlying goal of the Decentralization Act despite its enactment eight years ago.

It says that the lack of profit and benefit to citizens which should have resulted via the Decentralization Act had led to failure of local councils to provide necessary services to local residents, and implementation of principles of people-friendly governance.

 Ibrahim Waheed’s resolution calls on the administration to redraft the Decentralization Act in such a way it resolves the financial challenges faced by local councils and financially empowers local councils. He made four key recommendations.

• Five percent of the annual State budget should be allocated to local councils to be spent as per policies established by the Finance Ministry.
• The Parliament must ascertain that the projects planned by using financial assistance allocated from the annual State budget to councils are managed by the councils itself in order to prevent an increase in gross expenditure by the State.
• 40 percent of income to the State from lease of land must go to local councils in accordance with policies established by Finance Ministry.
• The Parliament must agree to establish laws to clearly define policies for usage of funds allocated to councils for financial empowerment, as well as the administrative and financial responsibilities which the allocation of funds will create.

AREA FROM COAST TO 500 METERS TO FALL WITHIN ISLANDS’ JURISDICTION

Ali Niyaz’s resolution says the natural resources and resources for infrastructure development from the land and water areas which fall within the island’s territory must be directly linked with the rights of local residents.

Laws need to be reformed so the people can derive the maximum profit and benefit from the resources, urges the MDP deputy chairperson in his resolution.

He called for immediate amendments to the Decentralization Act, and made three key recommendations.

• The Parliament must establish income generated from natural resources such as islands, lagoons and reefs which fall within the island’s territory belongs to the local council of the island.
• The Decentralization Act must establish policies on utilization of income generated from the resources for essential services to local residents and infrastructure development.
• Decentralization Act must be amended in accordance with its true spirit and with the recommendations in this resolution.

Recommendations for establishment of island jurisdiction:

• The area from the coast to a distance of 500 meters must fall within the jurisdiction of the island.
• If two islands should share a single lagoon, the jurisdiction ends at the midpoint between the two islands.

The submission of the two resolution comes after a statement by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the inauguration of the MDP Councilors Conference on Thursday, August 22, that the key to perfecting the decentralized system of governance was financial independence of local councils.

He said that the administration planned on allocating five percent of State income local councils, as well as releasing 40 percent of lease income on properties land, islands, lagoons and reefs, and 100 percent of land lease income from residential islands under its jurisdiction to councils.

The resolutions submitted by MDP falls in line with the remarks made by President Solih on Thursday.

Reforming the Decentralization Act and empowering local councils was one of President Solih’s key electoral pledges.

The Parliament is also scheduled to hold the first reading on three housing resolutions this Sunday.