Hulhumale municipal service transfer talks resume again

After a year of deliberation, discussions have resumed on transferring Hulhumale’s municipal services from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to the Male City Council.

The latest meeting took place on Sunday between representatives from both parties, marking the fourth round of talks on the matter.

HDC currently manages municipal services in Hulhumale, as it also owns the land in the area. However, the push to shift these responsibilities to the Male City Council gained momentum under the leadership of incumbent President Mohamed Muizzu, who had previously championed the change during his tenure as Mayor of Male.

The decision to hand over municipal services was initially announced on December 31, 2023. Since then, discussions have been ongoing to facilitate the transition, though progress has been slower than anticipated. Today’s meeting saw the participation of Male City Mayor Adam Azim, Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh, and HDC Managing Director Mauroof Jameel, along with senior officials from HDC.

Azim, a member of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has voiced concerns over the delay in implementing the transfer. He emphasised the importance of expediting the process to ensure effective municipal service delivery in Hulhumale.

HDC MD Mauroof Jameel acknowledged that certain administrative arrangements are still pending before the handover can be completed. He reassured that efforts are ongoing to resolve these matters and facilitate a smooth transition.