Muizzu Ratifies Amendment Bill for Thinadhoo City Council Designation

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has officially endorsed a bill aimed at amending Article 51 of the Decentralization Act, a move intended to clear legal hurdles for the designation of the local council of GDh. Thinadhoo as a city council. 

This decision follows the previous determination by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on August 30, 2023, to declare the densely populated southern island as a city.

Thinadhoo encountered legal challenges in its efforts to establish the local council as a city council, prompting the Thinadhoo Council to seek parliamentary intervention to resolve its legal status.

In response, the Parliament’s Decentralization Committee opted to amend Article 51 of the Decentralization Act, with the specific aim of addressing the impediments to recognising the Thinadhoo council as a city council.

The legislative process advanced when Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain proposed amendments to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), and (g) of Article 51. The bill received approval with a vote count of 42 on March 18.

According to the bill’s provisions, if a proposal is made to confer city status upon an island with less than a year remaining until the conclusion of the incumbent council’s term, the city status will be granted following the election of a new council. However, if more than a year remains until the end of the incumbent council’s term, the island will attain city designation, and the council will assume the status of a city council.

Article 51 (d) stipulates that upon a local council being granted the status of a city council, the council’s president and vice president will assume the roles of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.

The councils formed in accordance with these amendments will serve until the conclusion of their respective terms.