Councilors Taking Oath of Office a Historic Step Towards Decentralized Administration – the President

In this week’s radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed spoke on newly elected island councilors, atoll councilors and city councilors in February 5 local council elections taking oath of office on Saturday, 26 February, across the country.

Councilors who are taking their posts at local councils tomorrow are the first to be elected under the Decentralization Act.

The President, in his radio address given while on an official visit to India, said first ever councilors to be elected in the Maldives officially taking their oaths of office was a historic step towards consolidating decentralization.

He also urged the whole nation to participate in the events to be held across the country tomorrow to mark the new councilors taking their oaths of office.

The President called on all councilors to work for the best national interest in mind, for the development of the people and the country.

He also noted that the councilors were part of the country’s executive branch and therefore, urged them to work closely with the government to achieve the policy targets set out by the government. He assured them of the government’s assistance to and cooperation with all the councilors.

Acknowledging the possibility of major challenges following the introduction of an unprecedented transformation in the country’s administration, the President expressed confidence of overcoming these challenges with the help and cooperation of all political parties, elected councilors and state institutions.

In the radio address given from New Delhi, India, the President also spoke on his on going visit to India.

He was visiting India on an invitation of South Asia Center for Policy Studies (SACEPS) to address the opening of the World Conference on Recreating South Asia that began in Delhi yesterday.

The President said in addition to addressing the conference, he was holding discussions with senior officials of the Indian government about the close friendly relations that exist between the Maldives and India.

He said he we hopeful of expediting the Maldives’ development programmes with the assistance from India.