Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif has declared that work to establish a joint board for the islands of Haa Dhaalu Atoll will proceed, despite an order from the Local Government Authority (LGA) to halt the initiative.
Speaking on Adhadhu’s "Rashu Note" program, Athif stated that the LGA’s directive to stop the formation of the Atoll Board is unlawful, and therefore, the councils are not obligated to comply with it.
"The LGA’s instruction is, first and foremost, an illegal order. We are not required to follow an unlawful directive. We will exercise our legal authority. God willing, we will establish this board," Athif said.
Athif suggested that the government is attempting to block the board through the LGA to prevent regional coordination and stop councils from collectively seeking development for the atoll. He added that he now believes the previous dissolution of Atoll Councils was intended to dismantle inter-island coordination.
"I believe the LGA is facing pressure at a policy level from the government to stop this. The reason is to eliminate coordination within the atoll. It is now evident that Atoll Councils were dissolved for this very purpose—to prevent us from working together and achieving progress as a region," the Mayor said.
Athif noted that the LGA has historically encouraged collaborative efforts between councils, and argued that the authority has no legal standing to obstruct such an initiative.
The Mayor further revealed that Kulhudhuffushi City Council has already drafted the board’s governing regulations, the memorandum of understanding to be signed between councils, and the necessary resolutions. These documents have been sent to all island councils in the atoll for comment, and the board will be officially formed once this process is complete.
Athif explained that the idea for the board emerged after the dissolution of Atoll Councils led to a breakdown in communication and unity between islands, hindering regional development.
He highlighted that when the proposal for the Atoll Board was presented during an online meeting with the presidents of all Haa Dhaalu Atoll councils, it received unanimous support. He emphasized that councils across the entire atoll remain ready to move forward with the project.
