Pres Muizzu to facilitate more revenue for councils
The President said on Thursday that the electricity and water bills of island mosques have been reduced to help cut down council expenditure.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
President Mohammed Muizzu has said on Thursday that he will propose amendments to the relevant laws to allow councils to receive a certain percentage of the income from local tourism, fisheries and agriculture.
Addressing the people of V.Keyodhoo on Thursday, the President said that the people of the island will directly benefit from empowering island councils and increasing their income. He said the government will also benefit from this.
The President said he wants to provide opportunities that will benefit the people of the islands. The President said the following are:
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A certain percentage of TGST from island guesthouses and local tourism should be given to councils
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Island fisheries and other income generating activities such as agriculture should also provide a certain percentage to the island council
“I intend to propose amendments to the Decentralization Act and the Tourism Act to add a certain percentage of TGST from guesthouses and local tourism in islands to the revenue of councils,” he said.
He said he would also propose amendments to the tax law to change the current practice of depositing a certain percentage of income from additional income-generating activities conducted in the island to MIRA and make the money directly available to councils.
In addition, all relevant laws will be amended to ensure that councils receive a certain percentage of the revenue from main industries instead of collecting all taxes through the government's collecting agency, MIRA.
Revenue from taxes like TGST and GST now goes directly to MIRA.
The President said that as a result of the amendments he is proposing:
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The council’s revenue will increase
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The annual budget expenditures will be eased and the direct income from the islands will be easier to facilitate the people of the islands
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Then in the future, the money will go directly to the islands and revenue will be distributed across the whole country
The President said on Thursday that the electricity and water bills of island mosques have been reduced to help cut down council expenditure and increase revenue. The President also said that street light bills will be eased in the future.
