The Institute of Local Governance and Development, a private initiative of Bandos Island Resort owner and former Atolls Minister Mohamed Waheed Deen, was inaugurated at a ceremony at Dharubaaruge convention centre last night by Commonwealth Local Government Forum Secretary General Carl Wright.
In his keynote speech, Wright praised the former minister as “the founding father of local government in the Maldives.”
Waheed Deen spearheaded efforts to introduce local governance through elected councils before resigning as Atolls Minister in August, 2008.
At last night’s ceremony, Waheed Deen explained that his institute will support the decentralisation process and promote good governance by providing training programmes, consultation and information.
As its first order of business, the institute plans to conduct a two week course for newly-elected councillors at Bandos.
