Former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has assured his commitment to implement President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's policies.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Councillors Conference of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Thursday morning, Nasheed reiterated Solih’s claims that the desired change cannot be observed if governance is not done close to the people.
“I also have been talking about these policies. Fees from renting land in islands should be given to the islands, the point is it is their property and it belongs to them. President Solih has said that five percent of the budget goes to island councils. As you all know, five percent of the funds, is five percent of the work”Speaker Nasheed.
Shedding light on a decentralization framework, Nasheed said that saying Councillors cannot maintain islands and do not have the capability to do so is just an excuse, to not do it and that MDP appreciates the efforts by Councillors.
During the ceremony, Solih assured that once effective, five percent of the government’s annual budget will be given to councils who will be allowed 40 percent of the revenue from leasing reefs and to 100 percent of the total revenue from renting land over which they have jurisdiction in inhabited islands.