Pres hails 'most independent' 5 years
"The seeds of development that were sown from north to south are ready to sprout”.
By
Aminath Shifleen
The past five years have been five years of true freedom and independence, in all possible ways, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday.
At the official function held to mark the 58th Independence Day at Social Centre in Male, the president spoke about the current level of freedom in the Maldives. He pointed out that given the history of political freedom in the country, the country has been independent in every way for the last five years.
The president noted:
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Five years of the strongest international relations
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Five years of the most extensive internal independence
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Five years of individual freedom, guaranteed without restraint
"The true joy of freedom is the joy of achieving the freedom that one deserves. Even if the country remains free, the freedom that the people deserve under the shadow of the national flag is something completely different," he said.
According to him, it is the way to meet the basic and essential needs associated with the right to life and livelihood of the individual. And just about every citizen has that right provided for by the state, he said.
The president said that while celebrating the proud Independence Day of Maldives, we should walk in the footsteps of where we were yesterday and where we are today and think about the destination we want to reach tomorrow.
One of the biggest achievements, he cited, was the progress in education delivery. The president said:
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There is not a single Maldivian child who does not have the opportunity to learn and pursue higher education
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In the field of education and training, opportunities have been provided to the youth of Maldives to an extent never before provided
"The freedom that Maldivians have always believed in is that by educating their children, they can move forward on the path of development. That peace and happiness have been established and today we have laid the foundation for nation-building," he said.
"The seeds of development that were sown from north to south are ready to sprout."
According to him, the next step is to water the garden and plant the trees. Everyone should aim to spread the shelter of the trees throughout the country and provide a happy and peaceful life for future generations under that shelter, he said.
In the political arena, the opposition points the finger of blame at Maldives's relations with foreign countries. But the president sees it differently, he said.
He said the strongest force to maintain the freedom and security of Maldives and the people today is the friendly relationship between Maldives and the international community. The relationship has revitalised Maldives's economic development and increased the individual prosperity of the people, he said.
"My top priority in the future is to protect and safeguard the highest interests of the country. It is the top duty of the government to protect and maintain the sovereignty of this land of the people," he said.
