Majlis plays an integral role in national affairs – President

08 December 2007
Report: Ayya

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday morning said that the People’s Majlis played an integral role in national affairs. He made the statement in his speech at the function held at the People’s Majlis Complex to lay the foundation stone of the new administrative building of the Majlis. In his speech, President noted the heavy workload and important responsibilities of the Member of the People’s Majlis.

President Gayoom emphasized that democracy was introduced in the Maldives almost 75 years ago, with the introduction of the country’s first Constitution in 1932. He noted that the people had enjoyed the benefits of a parliament and a constitution ever since. He stressed that, with the announcement of the Democratic Reform Agenda, the country had today embarked on a new and exciting phase in its democratic life.

President highlighted the importance of ensuring that the ongoing political reform agenda remains firmly geared to ushering in a modern liberal democracy that fulfils the aspirations of the people. Referring to the country’s constitutional governance history, he also emphasized that it was factually erroneous to claim that the country is not a democracy.

“Anyone who says the Maldives is not a democracy should reflect on our twentieth century history. Such claims are therefore without substance” said President Gayoom.

President Gayoom thanked the Members of the People’s Majlis for shouldering a very important national responsibility with sincerity and dignity. He noted that their work was greatly beneficial to the country’s development. “Members of the People’s Majlis play an important role in ensuring that the future of the country remains bright”, the President highlighted.

President Gayoom noted that the Speaker and Members of the People’s Special Majlis had worked around the clock in recent months to meet their deadline for completing the new Constitution. Although the deadline was missed, it remains a fact that they worked tirelessly to achieve the goal. He also said that the tremendous progress attained by the Special Majlis in recent months had meant that the completion of their work was drawing ever closer. He expressed his confidence that, with the grace of the Almighty Allah, the constitutional reform work would be completed in the very near future. “The people can then look forward to the benefits of a new Constitution very soon”, the President assured in his speech.

The foundation stone of the new administrative building of the People’s Majlis was laid by President Gayoom, Speaker of the People’s Majlis Ahmed Zahir, Deputy Speaker of the Majlis Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, Members of the Majlis and the Secretary General of the Majlis Secretariat.

President Gayoom then inspected the blueprints of the new building.