The government's proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act will enable local councils to finalise development plans faster and begin their implementation without delay, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said.
The Attorney General said this in an interview with PSM News on the occasion of the two-year anniversary of the government.
The Attorney General highlighted several amendments proposed by the government to numerous laws. Noting the government’s intention to reduce the number of councillors in local councils, the Attorney General said the current structure slows decision-making and increases the administrative expenditure on councils. Therefore, the Decentralisation Act must be amended to establish a system that can make swift decisions on development matters and respond efficiently to community needs, he said.
Usham said the proposed abolition of Atoll Councils would remove the layer between the Local Government Authority, LGA and the island councils, which will also accelerate the work of the councils.
Usham said the government has introduced 65 bills in the past two years, of which 50 have been passed by Parliament and ratified into law by the President. He said the government is currently preparing to introduce ten additional bills within the next month.
The Attorney General also highlighted significant bills passed so far, noting the government’s strong focus on tackling gang crimes and addressing the nationwide drug problem. He said the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code have strengthened police powers to prevent such crimes.