The government has proposed constitutional and legislative amendments to remove Atoll Councils from the decentralization system and reduce the number of island councilors.
The amendments, moved in Parliament by PNC MP Ibrahim Shujau on behalf of the government, also propose implementing these changes in next year’s local council elections. The first reading of the bills was held today.
Under the proposed changes, Article 230 of the Constitution, which establishes Atoll Councils, would be amended to remove the President’s powers over the councils. Article 231 would be amended to require that presidents of island councils and mayors of city councils be elected by secret ballot.
Legislative amendments to the Decentralization Act and Local Council Election Act were also introduced. Under the proposed changes, island councils in communities with fewer than 2,000 people would have three councilors, while those with more than 2,000 residents would have five councilors. Gender quotas would reserve one seat in three-member councils and two seats in five-member councils for women.
The amendments also clarify that a full-time member of the Women’s Development Committee will be the President, elected by secret ballot among residents of the island or city.
The amendments, moved in Parliament by PNC MP Ibrahim Shujau on behalf of the government, also propose implementing these changes in next year’s local council elections. The first reading of the bills was held today.
Under the proposed changes, Article 230 of the Constitution, which establishes Atoll Councils, would be amended to remove the President’s powers over the councils. Article 231 would be amended to require that presidents of island councils and mayors of city councils be elected by secret ballot.
Legislative amendments to the Decentralization Act and Local Council Election Act were also introduced. Under the proposed changes, island councils in communities with fewer than 2,000 people would have three councilors, while those with more than 2,000 residents would have five councilors. Gender quotas would reserve one seat in three-member councils and two seats in five-member councils for women.
The amendments also clarify that a full-time member of the Women’s Development Committee will be the President, elected by secret ballot among residents of the island or city.
