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Maldives Independence Daze Awesome Meedhaa (pseudonym) Malé, July 2002 Photos from Haveeru The July 26th celebrations this year really went far beyond the borders of sanity. Stage locations, timings and all were carefully crafted by the President himself, in consultation with his occult group. The National Security Service went bonkers about security. Some visiting dignitaries were alarmed to see gun-toting heavies on the roof tops! Those attending included diplomats from UK, USA, Nigeria, China etc. Some of them, including the French representative, were taken on a tour of Ari Atoll. The whole idea apparently backfired. The main show included a lively performance that involved the mixing of different visual media, along with a whole troupe of NSS guys 'n girls, choreographed with music and dialogue depicting how the Portuguese were defeated, and something about Dhon Bandarain. Anyway, the representative from Portugal became so agitated that he wanted to meet the President in private. This did not take place, and he flew away in a rage. The French diplomat, meanwhile, had been to the Maldives earlier on an environmental project, and after visiting an island in Ari he complained loudly to the rest of the group about the lack of real progress. The posh atoll office building and the dilapidated school structure got tongues waggling. It turned out to be another big PR disaster. The diplomats from UK and USA had their fill of propaganda and were apparently disgusted by the whole show. The presidential address in Malé came from the new office complex, with the usual gaudy setup and idiotic speech. He was highlighting the importance of increasing productivity, public saving and the fact that Osama had been responsible for the economic downturn. Of course nobody believed a word. A photo exhibition titled 'One Family One Voice' was received by local and foreign audiences with a lot of jeering. Dunya Maumoon, a senior official at the UNDP, had masterminded this project, with a special tribute to Hassan Maniku. There were a lot of quotations of the President (her father) pasted all over the walls. Official report of Presidential Independence Day address The President's Office 26 July 2002 The President today said that at a time when the nation was achieving major milestones of development, it would be very useful to adopt necessary reforms to the lifestyles of the people. While addressing the nation on the occasion of the anniversary of national independence, the President said that it was an inescapable reality that the standard of living of every individual and every family was dependent on the income of the individual or the family. He added that although the standard of living would improve with rising incomes, it would always be important to find ways to increase one's income. Further, he said that the consolidation of one's livelihood and improving earning power, would be conducive to increasing the happiness and the fulfilment of the individual and the family, and would also at the same time, raise national productivity. The President said that attaining the desired development goals of the nation required the diversification of the economy. He said that it would also be necessary to achieve quality and competitiveness in every undertaking, and to perform it with devotion as a labour of love. He noted that success would require upholding a strong and professional work ethic as well as earning deserved praise and appreciation of the recipients of one's services, for whatever work was done. The President said that lifestyles must be based on the virtues of thrift and on adherence to the habit of saving. The President also said that it would be necessary to inspire those virtues and habits in young children as well. He added that we longed for a day when the nation consisted of contented families with productive members. While addressing the nation on the occasion of the anniversary of national independence, the President noted that the Gross Domestic Product of the country had, with the blessing of the Almighty Allah, expanded tremendously over the years. He said that such growth had been achieved within the framework of the liberal economic policies being pursued by the Government, and, further, was the result of the hard work of those engaged in fisheries, tourism and trade, and the drive of the people to achieve development. He noted that while the events of September 11 had adversely affected the tourist industry and the business sector of the country, the measures that were taken subsequently to address those effects were, with the blessing of the Almighty Allah, showing signs of succeeding. top

Myth of Portuguese Rule over the Maldives

Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
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