President: Battle to keep colonial powers at bay emerging with fuel within Maldives

The battle to keep influential colonial powers at bay, now emerges with fuel from within the Maldives, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The President made the statement in his address to the nation on occasion of the 52nd Independence Day of Maldives, this Wednesday afternoon.

He said in his speech that he remained unrelenting and steadfast in his position as Head of State and Head of Government despite the constant challenges, betrayals and disruptions because he believed in the potential of the country and had hopes and dreams for the country.

He said he had seven main goals he wished to accomplish.

1. Increasing the income and sufficiency of Maldivians to ensure happiness and prosperity.

2. Rehabilitating and reintegrating victims of drug abuse and crime, back into the society and providing them with job opportunities and accepting their place in families and the society.

3. Diverting funds spent on correctional and rehabilitation facilities towards housing, health and wages.

4. Ensuring that marginalized children with disabilities and learning difficulties are given an opportunity for a bright future.

5. Making Velana International Airport and Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital regionally acclaimed establishments.

6. Training local sports players and athletes to become invincible.

7. Building local professionals to be the absolute best in their fields.

President Yameen described his administration’s work to combat efforts to propagate religious beliefs other than Islam or apostasy, and work to combat terrorism, radicalism and extremism as his “battle and war”.

He said his administration was devoted to repaying the country’s debt and stabilizing the economy, fighting drugs and related offenses, enhancing the system of children and women’s protection, ensuring safety of lives of the people of Maldives and their property, and creating more job opportunities for the youth.

President Yameen said politicians were pursuing their own interests under the guise of citizens’ rights by openly calling out to foreign governments and international organizations to take action which will affect the independence and sovereignty of the country.

He said the peace and tranquility the country had enjoyed for so long now faced the threat of extinction.

“We hear alarm bells, reminding us that the days of peace and tranquility might be waving adieu to the beaches of the Maldives. Drums of anger and disruption are being beaten. The spotless white beaches without footsteps which we once, roamed about are now tainted with acts of selfishness, self-interest and the blood of Maldivians wounded and murdered in crimes which were once alien to this nation,” said President Yameen.

He said that words of mockery, harassment and anger has replaced the laughter of children, and the fond stories of the aged, once heard in our living rooms and Holhuashi in every island.

“Jealousy seems to have paved its way into the national arena. Undisguised, self centred efforts to deter national development aimed to benefit people en masse are carried without hesitation.”