Fayyaz questions purpose of Addu referendum on island councils

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has questioned whether forming separate island councils in three islands of Addu will address the concerns of residents.

A referendum is scheduled for Saturday in Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo to decide whether the three islands should form individual councils, separate from Addu City Council.

The government has said the vote will take place in these three islands following requests from residents seeking local administrative autonomy.

In a post on X on Sunday, Fayyaz said he had held discussions with several MDP members in Addu and found that many people had concerns and unanswered questions regarding the referendum.

“Will the result of the referendum solve the people’s problems, or will it increase them?” he asked. “It is important that the government clearly explains the implications of the referendum.”

Fayyaz urged the authorities not to rush the process and said the matter could instead be addressed through amendments to existing laws. He added that many residents wanted to maintain the current administrative structure, keeping all the connected islands under one council.

Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, which are geographically separate from the connected islands of Addu, have previously expressed interest in forming their own councils.

At present, Addu is governed by a single city council that administers all six islands, including the four connected islands—Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo—and the two separate islands, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.

The referendum scheduled for 25 October will be the first to be conducted in the Maldives under the new referendum law.