President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has officially ratified the 11th Amendment to the Decentralisation Act (Act No. 07/2010), thereby conferring city council status upon Thinadhoo Island Council.
The bill, passed during the 14th sitting of the first session of Parliament on March 18, introduces amendments to several sections of Article 51 of the Decentralisation Act. These amendments outline the procedures for granting city status to an island council.
According to the amended act, if the term of office for an existing council is less than one year, city status shall be granted after the election of the newly constituted council. Conversely, if the term exceeds one year, the island or group of islands may be designated as a city, subject to specified procedures.
Upon the formal designation of an island as a city, the existing island council will be reconstituted as the city council. The president and vice president of the island council will assume the roles of mayor and deputy mayor during the transition period. The terms of office for city council members will correspond with their original membership duration on the Island Council.
Additionally, the amendment provides for the dissolution of the atoll council if a city is established encompassing all islands within an administrative area. The city council will assume responsibility for the facilities and services previously managed by the atoll council.
With the ratification of the amendment, the act will come into effect upon its publication in the Government Gazette,