Kulhudhuffushi Mayor Mohamed Athif has accused the government of obstructing the city's development by refusing to allow the council to carry out a 150-unit housing project.
Speaking on Adhadhu's Fenna Nufenna talk show last night (March 15), Athif said blaming the councils for delays in starting development projects on islands does not make sense.
"No resident of Kulhudhuffushi will believe that the council would obstruct any development coming to the city. President [Mohamed Muizzu] still has very old beliefs," he said.
Muizzu recently said the government was unable to begin development projects in 57 islands because of the councils. But he did not name the islands.
However, the government-controlled parliament amended the Decentralisation Act to allow the government to override councils and carry out projects on islands.
The 150-unit housing project
The council wants to build 150 housing units in Kulhudhuffushi.
A letter was sent to the Finance Ministry in February last year requesting permission to carry out the project.
According to the Finance Rules, the project can only be carried out with the permission of the ministry.
"However, a year has passed, and the Ministry of Finance has not given permission. This is an obstacle by the government," Athif said.
The government has also prevented the council from hiring new employees to fill vacancies.
Athif said the council had planned to allocate land for tourism, watersports and guest house businesses, but the amendments to the Decentralisation Act prevent these plans.
None of the major promises made to Kulhudhuffushi has seen progress, Athif said. These include 3,400 housing units, a sports complex and expansion of health services.
"We asked about the size of the land required for the housing units, the concept of the housing unit and how many towers and how much land would be required. The government could not give any information on this," Athif said.
The only promise for Kulhudhuffushi under the government's first 100-days was the new terminal in Kulhudhuffushi airport. But Athif said there has been no progress since laying the foundation stone.
Health services are deteriorating day by day
Muizzu promised to develop the health service so that people from Kulhudhuffushi do not have to go to Male'.
Athif said the previous government had decentralised the health system, but the Muizzu administration has centralised everything under the Health Ministry.
Hospitals are facing serious difficulties due to this, Athif said, adding that the people's biggest concerns are housing and health services.
Two supervisors for each employee
Athif highlighted the number of political employees in Kulhudhuffushi, while the government claims to be pursuing a policy of cutting expenditure.
There are three workers in the stadium and six or seven political employees to supervise them, he said.
"There are political employees at the rate of two supervisors for every employee," Athif said.
Although the Youth Ministry does not have an office in Kulhudhuffushi, the ministry's political employees are in the city, along with political employees from the Fisheries Ministry and Public Works.
