Local Government Authority (LGA) has ordered the Thinadhoo City Council to stop charging individuals USD324 to fulfill requests to revoke their island residency.
On January 7, the Thinadhoo City Council announced that it has begun charging USD324 to revoke the residency of individuals wishing to move from Thinadhoo. The decision was made after holding discussions during a council meeting, during which the councilors determined that the city would be adversely affected if residents moved away.
In a letter to the Thinadhoo Council, LGA stated that the council needs to complete the proper procedures before issuing such fees. LGA stated that every citizen has the right to move and settle in any part of the country. As such, LGA stated that any measure of that right can only be withheld by a law passed by the Parliament that does not undermine the Constitution. The authority also highlighted that the Decentralisation Act stipulates that if a person has a house or flat in an island other than his residence, he shall not be discriminated against in granting the opportunity to become a resident of that island.
A fee for revocation of residency or resettlement should be charged after holding discussions with the public and in accordance with procedures published by the government. Any fee that is charged without fulfilling these requirements would be halted.
LGA also requested Thinadhoo City Council to hold discussions with the residents on the imposition of such fees and to submit a copy of the rules, minutes of the meeting with the residents, as well as the minutes of the council meeting in which the decision to charge the fee was made.