The cabinet has decided to handover the powerhouses, currently operating under Island Development Committees, to Utilities Companies after giving compensation, as the Island Development Committees are not legally empowered.
The members made this decision after discussing a paper on the matter presented by the Attorney General’s Office.
The Island Development Committees were established on 8 April 1999 by the former Ministry of Atolls Administration under the Island Development Committee Regulation.
According to the Constitution which was ratified on August 2008, regulations derive their authority only from laws passed by the People’s Majlis.
The cabinet decided to establish committees to advice island councillors, until local elections are held.
At today’s cabinet meeting, the members also deliberated on a regulation drafted by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on developing tourists guest houses in the islands in order to provide direct economic benefit from tourism to the people of the islands.
It was further decided to give authorization, under this regulation, to build guest houses in inhabited islands.
