President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced his plan to propose amendments to the necessary laws to allow the allocation of a portion of the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) received from local tourism establishments in the islands, to the respective local councils. The President made the remarks while speaking with Vaavu Atoll Keyodhoo Island residents.
The President detailed that the Administration would propose law amendments facilitating a portion of the TGST paid to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) being directed to individual local councils. The President emphasised the importance of amending laws to facilitate tax portions from main industries being directed to local councils instead of all tax revenue being collected by the central government through its collecting agency.
The President conveyed that the purpose of the change is to bring meaningful decentralisation by facilitating the people to benefit directly from the revenue. He said that the financial empowerment of the local councils would ease the strain on the central government.
President Dr Muizzu revealed plans to conduct Keyodhoo Island's land reclamation project within the year. He also announced the
Inclusion of Keyodhoo Island in the megaproject to develop waste management facilities on several islands under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The President said that the Administration would resolve the concerns regarding the island’s harbour development project, build a four-storey building for the school, and build a children's park for Keyodhoo Island.
