Mayor Sodiq confident of achieving Goals despite Challenges

Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq is confident that progress will be made despite having faced challenges in the past over the Addu City council, with court cases against government's decision to give the Atoll a City status.

In an interview with Miadhu, Sodiq claimed that the situation is different from Male' City, where a system of governance was already established, before the City Council Elections. Addu City Council will have to come up with a system of governance from scratch, which will be a huge challenge in the coming days, he claimed.

In a meeting held yesterday, discussions were held on a wide range of issues, and a procedure for running the council had already been agreed upon by the council members.

It was decided by the City Council, to have 4 administrative regions instead of the normal electoral constituencies, for ease of administration, he said. The 4 Administrative regions were, Hithadhoo, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hulhu-Meedhoo, but the final decision will be made after consultation with the public, he clarified.

Furthermore, Sodiq claimed that the elected City Council which is made up of young and enthusiastic members, will forge a close working relationship with Political Parties and Civil Society, and will make decisions based on input by the public, rather than dictate decisions.

He said that the council members were invited to travel to Male' to get exposed to the system already in place in Male', and for discussions with relevant authority, and said, they would travel in the near future, after addressing urgent and pressing issues faced by the newly formed city council.

He commended the City Councilors, and said that everyone is enthusiastic to find solutions which the City is facing, and would work closely with the public, taking into account the wishes of the public. Since being elected, the councilors have been in consultation with a the Civil Society and government authorities and have been receiving positive input from them, who are very keen to find workable solutions to problems, and work together for the betterment of the City, he informed.