6 seats reserved for women in Male’, 4 in Addu, and 2 in Fuvahmulah

Elections Commission (EC) says six of the total seats at the Male’ City Council will be reserved for women with the recent amendment to the Decentralization Act to reserve one-third of the seats at all local councils for women.

The particular amendment, along with other amendments to the Decentralization Act, was passed by the Parliament last week, and the EC, which has scheduled the Local Council Elections for April 4, 2020, is currently working on adapting to the changes in its preparations for the elections.

EC president, Ahmed Shareef tweeted that the EC worked on dividing the capital, Male’ City to 18 districts last Friday.

He said that the new Male’ City Council will have 19 councilors - including the mayor, and the Women’s Development Committee 18 members.

Meanwhile, the new Addu City Council will have 13 councilors – including the mayor, and the Women’s Development Committee will have 10 members; while the new Fuvahmulah City Council will have seven councilors – including the mayor, and the Women’s Development Committee will have six members.

Shareef also says the reservation of one-thirds of the council seats for women means six seats at the Male’ City Council will be reserved for women, four seats at the Addu City Council will be reserved for women, and two seats at the Fuvahmulah City Council will be reserved for women.

Additional legislative amendments mean islands with a population of less than 3,000 people will have five-member councils – with two seats reserved for women.

Meanwhile, islands with a population exceeding 3,000 people will have seven-member councils – with three seats reserved for women.

The recent legislative amendments have empowered local councils financially, and have granted them the right to property – both at land and sea – which fall within the jurisdiction of individual islands.