Posts
The draft of a bill for decentralized administration in the Maldives has been compiled by well-known lawyer Husnu Suood and is now available for comments at www.local.gov.mv. As stated in the introductory articles the purpose of the proposed law is to facilitate people living in the islands to decide their affairs in a democratic and answerable way, and to enhance their quality of life socially, economically and culturally. While the bill is comprehensive, professional and sound, it may not be out of place to share one's opinion on it. So here are some random thoughts.
Chapter I: Dividing into provinces: Merging atolls into a few larger provinces is probably a good move, in view of the dwindling island population.
Chapter II: Atoll Councils: Some of the powers mentioned in article 9 are not actually powers, rather responsibilities or duties. For example, reporting and supporting. Yet others are actually services. For example, providing transport and maintaining food security.
Chapter III: Island Councils: Same comments as for Atoll councils.
Chapter IV: City Council: Same as for Atoll councils.
Chapter V: Provincial Minister: Article 64 requires the State Minister to be answerable to Majlis. However according to the Constitution, only a cabinet minister can do that. Article 65 says employees of government ministries are answerable to the provincial state minister. Thus such employees are answerable to two different ministers. Is this practical? Article 72 gives the Local Government Commission (a political body consisting of provincial ministers) the power to dissolve elected councils? How can one assure that this power is not misused against councils controlled by opposition parties?
Chapter X: Reporting: While councils implement activities delegated by central ministries, there is no provision in the bill for reporting back on those activities.
7 comments:
The councils have too many bosses. Male ministers, state minsters, the people. they will be pulled 3 sides
Who will run the secondary schools and hospitals?
The law does not talk about dividing work between central government and councils. Who will do what? Will there be delegation of work? if so how will the delegated work be monitored? For education projects will the funds come through education ministry?
When local governments are formed why should central ministries do any service in the islands? everything must be decentralized. ministries must only make policies. If both provide services decentralization will not work.
What has bee proposed as an Atoll Council is not an Atoll council at all. It is a provincial council.This is a gimmick to fool the constitution which requires forming Atoll Councils.
And it looks like the state minister has more powers and responsibilities than his boss Home cabinet minister.And it appears that all the other ministries are less important than Home affairs, State Minister.
Provinces are a bad idea.Alien to our culture and history. Get back to the Atolls. If there is not enough population, say Vaavu Atoll then that Atoll can be abolished or absorbed.I suggest go back to the traditional atolls such as Bodu Thiladhun mathi, Maalhos Madulu etc
Local gov form kurani e ee president kura kameh tha!!! I'm tryin to buy the presidential athiri...it's gold plated...
All credit for formation of island and atoll councils belong to former prez Gayoom. Mr deen only did what was asked of him. All the instructions came directly from him.Deen was lucky he had a good team under him. They did a lot to promote decentralization.
Post a Comment