lordnasebyexposesmdp
UK House of Lords calls on MDP to cooperate
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 14th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The UK House of Lords has expressed the view that the Maldives government is doing a commendable job in tsunami recovery and has called on the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to cooperate in amending the constitution.
Addressing the House on Friday 10th February, Lord Naseby, Chairman of the All Party Maldives Group reported in detail on the tsunami recovery situation in both the Maldives and Sri Lanka. He also briefly referred to the reform agenda currently being implemented by the Maldives government.
Lord Naseby’s statement opening the debate implied that the MDP’s current stance (they have pulled out of the all party talks) was not in the best interests of democracy.
Speaking about the reform process, Lord Naseby said: “[The people of Maldives] are grappling with a new constitution as part of the transition from a one-party state. There are now four political parties. One party has pulled out - the MDP - and I encourage Her Majesty's Government, which I know meets representatives of the MDP in the UK, to ask it to co-operate.
“After all, that is what democracy is about.”
Speaking to olhuala.com the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Ahmed Nihan said, “this is exactly what we have been working to achieve. Although the MDP hoodwinks locals with false statements and propaganda they can’t hope to fool esteemed observers such as Lord Naseby in the same way. The truth is starting to emerge.”
Lord Naseby through regular visits to the Maldives has worked tirelessly, over a number of years, to uphold the interests of the Maldives in the House. He was also one of the first international relief coordinators to arrive in the Maldives following the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Lord Naseby is in regular contact with Hassan Sobir the Maldivian High Commissioner to the UK and the Ambassador to the EU in assisting the latter in his assiduous efforts to raise awareness towards the shortages of funds felt by the Maldivian tsunami victims.
Speaking about the government’s management of the tsunami recovery effort Lord Naseby said: “It was a job well done and well administered by the Government of the Maldives. Phase 2, restoration, took place during the past year. When I went back, I found good progress. Fishing is nearly back to normal. Only 10 islands are still closed to tourism. Occupancy is back up to around 75 per cent.
Later in the debate, Baroness Northover asked the UK government what its view was of the graduation of the Maldives from LDC status just a few days before the tsunami struck in December 2004, and what the UK government can do to raise more funds for the tsunami recovery efforts of the Maldives.
Maldives was earmarked for graduation from LDC status as the country met a number of economic growth indicator thresholds. Speaking to reporters the former UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives Minh Pham said, “Graduation can in fact be perceived as a very positive step. Maldivians should be proud that the country has qualified for a medium development status, which directly reflects the fruitfulness of government efforts of the last two decades to improve the lives of the people.”
Although this reclassification may be seen as a positive, observers believe that it may hamper the Maldives’ chances of getting sufficient aid for reconstruction.
Click to read full story
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male', Maldives 14th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The UK House of Lords has expressed the view that the Maldives government is doing a commendable job in tsunami recovery and has called on the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to cooperate in amending the constitution.Addressing the House on Friday 10th February, Lord Naseby, Chairman of the All Party Maldives Group reported in detail on the tsunami recovery situation in both the Maldives and Sri Lanka. He also briefly referred to the reform agenda currently being implemented by the Maldives government.
Lord Naseby’s statement opening the debate implied that the MDP’s current stance (they have pulled out of the all party talks) was not in the best interests of democracy.
Speaking about the reform process, Lord Naseby said: “[The people of Maldives] are grappling with a new constitution as part of the transition from a one-party state. There are now four political parties. One party has pulled out - the MDP - and I encourage Her Majesty's Government, which I know meets representatives of the MDP in the UK, to ask it to co-operate.
“After all, that is what democracy is about.”
Speaking to olhuala.com the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Ahmed Nihan said, “this is exactly what we have been working to achieve. Although the MDP hoodwinks locals with false statements and propaganda they can’t hope to fool esteemed observers such as Lord Naseby in the same way. The truth is starting to emerge.”
Lord Naseby through regular visits to the Maldives has worked tirelessly, over a number of years, to uphold the interests of the Maldives in the House. He was also one of the first international relief coordinators to arrive in the Maldives following the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Lord Naseby is in regular contact with Hassan Sobir the Maldivian High Commissioner to the UK and the Ambassador to the EU in assisting the latter in his assiduous efforts to raise awareness towards the shortages of funds felt by the Maldivian tsunami victims.
Speaking about the government’s management of the tsunami recovery effort Lord Naseby said: “It was a job well done and well administered by the Government of the Maldives. Phase 2, restoration, took place during the past year. When I went back, I found good progress. Fishing is nearly back to normal. Only 10 islands are still closed to tourism. Occupancy is back up to around 75 per cent.
Later in the debate, Baroness Northover asked the UK government what its view was of the graduation of the Maldives from LDC status just a few days before the tsunami struck in December 2004, and what the UK government can do to raise more funds for the tsunami recovery efforts of the Maldives.
Maldives was earmarked for graduation from LDC status as the country met a number of economic growth indicator thresholds. Speaking to reporters the former UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives Minh Pham said, “Graduation can in fact be perceived as a very positive step. Maldivians should be proud that the country has qualified for a medium development status, which directly reflects the fruitfulness of government efforts of the last two decades to improve the lives of the people.”
Although this reclassification may be seen as a positive, observers believe that it may hamper the Maldives’ chances of getting sufficient aid for reconstruction.
Click to read full story