Local Government Authority (LGA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohamed Nimal said that the decision to postpone the election to appoint members to its board was not made with the intention of achieving any political objective, but was instead taken after receiving complaints.
CEO Nimal made the remarks while speaking on the Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu programme “Ahaashey Bunaanan”.
Nimal said the election, which had been scheduled for 8 August, had to be postponed after the authority received complaints from some councils and members of the public. He said the ballot boxes had already been placed at LGA branch offices in the atolls, but information had been received that some councillors were planning not to attend to vote and instead send staff from those offices to cast votes on their behalf.
Nimal said such actions would bring the LGA into disrepute. As a result, the authority decided to send staff from its head office to oversee the ballot boxes placed in the atolls. He added that although the election had been postponed indefinitely, preparations for holding the election were still continuing.
Nimal said there was no intention behind the postponement to achieve any political objective.
He also said that the members currently serving on the LGA board had been appointed by the previous government, and that replacements would be appointed once the terms of those members expired.
The nine-member LGA board comprises a minister appointed by the President to be accountable to the Parliament, as stipulated under Article 140 of the Constitution; a woman with experience in the field of gender equality; a member with experience in governance or public administration; and a member of a civil society organisation.
The board also includes one member elected by city councillors from among themselves; one member elected by presidents of island councils; one member elected by presidents of island committees working for the advancement of women; an employee of the ministry responsible for financial affairs appointed by the relevant minister; and the authority’s Chief Executive Officer, appointed by the President.