Local Government Authority (LGA) has stated that local councils need public support for their efforts to develop islands and atolls. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LGA Afshan Latheef made the remark at the opening ceremony of the conference on safety held in Eydhafushi, Baa Atoll.
Speaking at the ceremony, CEO Afshan said a long-term developmental plan has many aspects, the most important of which is increasing the participation of the elderly and the marginalised youth in the initiatives of local councils. She said development is more than infrastructure, as it is also the preservation of the natural beauty of the Maldives for future generations. She added that LGA is not only responsible for penalising wrongdoing but also for giving its full support to the initiatives of local councils.
Also at the ceremony, the President of Baa Atoll council Ahmed Afrah said island councils are giving their support to the development plan for the atoll. He noted that the plan includes improving the waste management system and the finances of local councils as well as increasing public support for environmental causes.
Members of 12 island councils and women’s development committees (WDCs) are participating in the three-day conference. Officials from LGA, Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, atoll hospital, and education centres have also joined the conference.