Statement by His Excellency Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Republic of Maldives, At the first general assembly of Maldivian Red Crescent

IFRC officials who are here for today’s inauguration; Red Cross and Red Crescent members who have been residing in the Maldives for a very long time, all the delegates; government ministers, Good morning:

Today of course, indeed is a happy day. The country has been trying to come up with a Red Cross and Red Crescent chapter in this country for quite some time. As I understand it, work for or attempts to establish a society were first made back in 2001. I remember a group of like minded people, while I was MP for Male’, approached me, and we did some preliminary work and attempted or rather try to register the society. It of course, failed and we were not able to have a Red Cross and Red Crescent chapter in the Maldives.

Culturally this country or government has been rather big brother in its attitude towards society and towards its people. Subsequently, civil society is very week and therefore, to come up with a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society became that much of a challenge.

It took a tsunami for the government to realise that we have to introduce humanitarian organisations and societies such as this to this country as well. After the tsunami, Red Crescent and Red Cross engagements in the Maldives was very substantial. They came here in their full force and they have assisted in the rebuilding of the country and the reconstruction of it tremendously. And we thank the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies all over the world for such a beautiful piece of work as they have done here in the Maldives.

I must say unfortunately, the view of the government was to see the reconstruction work done and hopefully do away with the societies after that. I’m sorry, this is what I saw when this government took administration. The process of trying to get the society enacted was so laborious that it defied all imagination and reasoning. The bill once formulated was in the pipeline for a good five years and still it was unable to proceed in the parliament when we assumed administration.

One of our first actions in this regard was to call upon Red Crescent and Red Cross societies here in Male’ and ask them to see where they were and how they the government may be able to assist them. I remember it was very soon after my inauguration that I requested all Red Crescent and Red Cross officials in the Maldives to the President’s Office and see where the situation was.

We of course new where the situation was because all along we had been looking at the situation and seeing how we may be able to come up with a more amicable and workable arrangement.

I thank former MDP Parliamentary Group Leader Hassan Afeef and former DRP Parliamentary Group Leader Aneesa Ahmed for fast tracking the bill at that time – this was after December 2008. And the bill was therefore, tabled and we have been able to come up with a piece of legislation that would allow the society to function in the Maldives.

I am sure that the people of this country have been looking for a society such as this for a very long time. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind in that. And with the new legislative framework we should be able to use that framework also to strengthen other civil societies, organisation and groups. And we have a very good model in the form of the Red Crescent bill or the law on how we may be able to proceed with it and I am glad to say we have everything on track and we can proceed now.

No Maldivian is unaware of the extend of what I have referred as a beautiful piece of work done by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society in the Maldives and I’m sure we will all be thankful for the society for that.

But I would like to stress a few points. Very often aid gives us capital expenditure. Very often it would be building infrastructure. When infrastructure is built, the very next day we will have to start spending on the recurrent expenditure. Now, we have a serious problem with the sixteen and a number of sixteen sewerage systems and a number of infrastructure projects built soon after the tsunami. In my mind, we now face another disaster in terms of ballooning recurrent expenditure, looking after the capital production or infrastructure extensions soon after the tsunami. I will just give you one example. I have just been to Nilandhoo last week. The sewerage system there will cost the island Rf70, 000 in electricity every month. Now, we do not have system or a means of how we are going to cover these costs. They were not built into the budget. They were not thought about. We need to find better ways of transferring and also operating infrastructure projects.

I’m sure Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have lot of experience in this. I see society has, I’m sure, accumulated a vast amount of experience in not only building but also in transferring and developing operation models for the new buildings. We lack that presently here in the Maldives, and the government has a serious problem consequent to that. I would like to see this addressed by the society – how we may be able to model a better situation, a better model on transferring the infrastructure projects. The government has come up with private sector or rather corporate models on how we may be able to build in new infrastructure into the existing framework. And we hope that we will be able to work with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in this manner.

I would also like to point out that how do we anticipate future disasters? Climate change is going to throw up a number of challenges. The science is much sorted. We have to understand that things are not going to be easy in the future. The society, I’m sure, would be very well equipped to find ways and means on how we may be able to not only adapt but also to mitigate climate change issues.

In adaptation measures, I feel that the society has a very big role to play. We have always identified adaptation in two different categories. I do not believe it is just revetments, embankments and water breakers and harbours and so on. That is not the only form of adaptation: just simply raising the level of land and then fortifying the land. We have always felt that the best form of adaptation is democracy and good governance. Without better governance it really would be impossible for us to adapt to climate change situations.

Again I can give you examples. The previous government went into adaptation programmes in some 120 islands. Out of that, more than 75 percent of the projects are not working, simply because of governance issues. When you gave the contract, you gave it to the wrong person or when you gave it to the right person, you had the wrong particulars to it or the demands from it and, rather, we didn’t consult with the people and therefore the people didn’t understand what everyone else was doing and finally we end up being in a mess. 100 to 200 million dollars are stuck on adaptation programmes simply because of governance issues. I feel that this is an issue that the society should really look into and see how best governance can be mapped to or assist adaptation programmes. So for us consolidating democracy is the most important form of adaptation.

In even mitigation, I believe that the society has a role to play and the society needs to come up with mitigation models. Again this government being with a centre-right vision has relied upon the private sector to deliver renewable energy and also to come up with mitigation programmes.

We believe that we can become carbon neutral and we believe that -- I’m sure, even if we become less of a polluting country, that will not stop the world or that won’t reverse any climate change issue. We understand that. But at least we feel that we can die knowing that we did the right thing. So at least we will have that.

I don’t want to go on and on, but there are a few issues I just would like to stress and I would repeat it again: infrastructure programmes whenever it happens, we have to be mindful of the recurrent expenditure that it is going to foist upon. And, we have to have models that would deal with such issues. I also feel that adaptation programmes must be central to the societies work and in adaptation we have to find home-grown solutions. Adaptation as we are now going about is very expensive. Just one revetment in Fuvahmulah is going to cost us 40 million dollars. So at one point I thought that Gordon Brown’s hundred million dollars would only do the Maldives. This as it is working now with many expenses. We need to find a home-grown solution to that. We feel that there are softer engineering methods and we also now understand that there are biological engineering methods through which we can protect our islands. We would want the society to look into these engineering methods as well.

Again just before I finish I would like to thank everyone and we hope, and I’m sure that this is going to happen, that the society would become a substantial society here in the Maldives. It is the only society that is specifically legislated for it. There is no other NGO that has a legislature that calls for its establishment. Even the United Nations programme here or JICA or VSO or for instance, any other society has a specific legislation for its enactment here. When we saw the whole process of enactment of the legislation being delayed, we did look into all sorts of models to see if there is any other way that we can establish the society without a legislation. But then, we also thought that; here is a good model if we can push. So finally we said that the Red Cross and Red Crescent society bill was a transitional bill. Now, the Constitution called for a number of transitional enactments that had to be done before the first multiparty parliamentary elections. So finally we decided to say that this has to go under article 55 of the rules and procedures of the House where through which we could fast track it and then get it out. Afeef was excellent in devising this and in no time we were able to come out with it. So again thank you Afeef, for that brilliant piece of political manoeuvring.

I think because, it is such an important day for us here in the Maldives, I would like to say a few words in Dhivehi.

السّـلام عليـكم
އަޅުގަނޑު ހަމަ ދެންމެ މިދަންނަވާލީ، މިއަދަކީ އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ވަރަށް އުފާވެރި ދުވަހެކޭ. ރާއްޖޭގައި މިފަދަ ޖަމާޢަތެއް، ޖަމްޢިއްޔާއެއް އުފެއްދުމަށްޓަކައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރެވެމުން އަންނަތާ ދުވަސްތަކެއްވެއްޖެ. އަޅުގަނޑު ހަނދާންވަނީ އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ 2001 ވަނަ އަހަރު އަޅުގަނޑު މާލޭ މެންބަރަކަށް ހުރިއިރުގައި، ބޭފުޅުންކޮޅެއް ރެޑްކްރޮސް އެންޑް ރެޑްކްރެސެންޓް ސޮސައިޓީގެ ޗެޕްޓަރެއް ރާއްޖޭގައި ރަޖިސްޓްރީ ކުރުމަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރެވުނު. އެހެން ނަމަވެސް، އެވަގުތު އެކަން ނުވެދިޔައީ.
އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް މި ރާއްޖެއަށް މިބާވަތުގެ ޖަމާޢަތެއް ބޭނުންވާކަން އެނގުމަށް ސުނާމީއެއް މެދުވެރިވާން ޖެހުނު ކާރިސާއެއް. ކޮންމެއަކަސް އެއަށްފަހުވެސް ޚިޔާލުހުރީ ކުއްލިއަކަށް މި ޖަމާޢަތް ރާއްޖޭގައި އުފެއްދޭ ގޮތަކަށެއް ނޫން. އެ ޤާނޫނު އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ ތެރޭގައި ފާސްވުމަށް ނުވަތަ ރާއްޖޭގެ ޤާނޫނުތަކުގައި އެފަދަ ޤާނޫނެއް އެކުލަވާލުމަށް 4 އަހަރު ވަންދެން ހުރަސްތަކެއް މެދުވެރިވެފައި ހުރި. އެންމެފަހުން އިރާދަކުރައްވައިގެން ސަރުކާރު ބަދަލުވެ، އާ ސަރުކާރަކާ އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ޙަވާލުވުމާ ގުޅިގެން، ރެޑްކްރޮސް އަދި ރެޑްކްރެސެންޓް ޖަމާޢަތުގައި ރާއްޖޭގައި ތިއްބެވި ހުރިހާ ބޭފުޅުންނާ އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ދަޢުވަތު އެރުވިން ރައީސް އޮފީހަށް ވަޑައިގަތުމަށް. އެބޭފުޅުން އަރިހުގައި ދެންނެވިން، މިކަން ބާރަށް އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ކުރިއަށް ދެވޭނެ ގޮތަކީ ކޮބައިތޯ ހޯދައިދިނުމަށް. އަދި ދެފަރާތުން އެކަމަށް ވިސްނުމަށް. އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ފެނުނީ، އަޅުގަނޑު ޙަސަން ޢަފީފަށް މިކަމުގައި ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން. އަދި އަނީސާއަށްވެސް އަޅުގަނޑު ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން. އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް ފެނުނީ 55 ވަނަ މާއްދާއިން މަޖިލީހުގެ ހިންގާ ގަވާއިދުގެ ކުއްލިއަކަށް ބާރަށް ގެންދެވޭ މި އިންތިޤާލީ މަރްޙަލާގެ ޤާނޫނެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި މި ޤާނޫނު ގެންގޮސްގެން މިކަން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދެވިދާނެ ކަމަށް. އެގޮތުން އެމަގުން އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް މިޤާނޫނު ކުރިއަށް ގެންދެވި، ޤާނޫނު މިއޮތީ ފާސްވެފައި. އެހެންވީމާ، އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް މިހާރު މި ޖަމާޢަތާއިގެން މިއާދެވެނީ.
އަޅުގަނޑު އުންމީދު ކުރަނީ، މިމަސައްކަތް ކުރިއަށްދާއިރުގައި މިއިން އަދި މިޖަމާޢަތުގެ ސަބަބުން ރާއްޖެއަށް ލިބޭ ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ލިބެނީ ފައިދާއަށްވުން. އުނދަގުލާއި ތުރާއަށްނުވުން. އަޅުގަނޑު ފާހަގަމިކުރަނީ ކޮންމެ ނަރުދަމާއެއް ބިނާކޮށްދިނީމާ، ކޮންމެ ހެލްތް ސެންޓަރެއްވިޔަސްވެސް އަދި ޒުވާނުންގެ ޖަމާޢަތެއްވިޔަސްވެސް އަދި ކުޑަކުދިންނާގުޅޭ ތަނަކަށްވިޔަސްވެސް، ޑްރަގް ރީހެބިލިޓޭޝަން ސެންޓަރަކަށްވިޔަސްވެސް، ޢިމާރާތެއް އެކަނި ކޮށްލުމަކުންނެއް އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަކަށް ފަސޭހައެއް ނޫނޭ ވަނީ ސަރުކާރަކަށް. ޙަޤީޤަތުގައިވަނީ އުނދަގުލޭ. އެއީ، އެއާ ގުޅޭ ރިކަރެންޓް ޚަރަދު، ހިނގަ ހިނގާ ހުންނާނޭ ޚަރަދު ހޯދޭނެ ގޮތެއް ނުރާވައި، ނުވަތަ އެ ޚަރަދުތަކަށް ނުބަލައި، ހަމަ ހައްތަހާ ތަންތަން ޢިމާރާތް ކުރަމުން ގެންދިޔައީމާ، ދެން މެދުވެރިވާ ކާރިސާއެއް މި މެދުވެރިވަނީ ބަޖެޓް ޑެފިސިޓްވެގެންގޮސް. އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަށް، އަޅުގަނޑުމެންގެ މާލިއްޔަތު ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާނެގޮތް އުނދަގޫވެގެންދަނީ.
އެހެންވީމާ، ދެން މަސައްކަތް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދަވާއިރުގައި، ދެއްވާ ކޮންމެ އެއްޗަކާ ގުޅިގެން، އެ އެއްޗެއް ހިންގާނެ ގޮތެއް ރާއްވަވަންޖެހޭނެއޭ. އަޅުގަނޑު އިހަކަށްދުވަހަކު ނިލަންދުއަށް ދިޔައިރުގައި، ނިލަންދޫ މީހަކު އަޅުގަނޑު ކައިރީ ބުނި، ރައީސޭ މިހާރު ފާޚާނާއަށް ދާން ދެން ކުރަންޖެހޭ ޚަރަދަކީ މިއޮތީއޭ. ހަތްދިހަހާސް ރުފިޔާ ނިލަންދޫ ކަރަންޓް ބިލަށް އިތުރުވެގެން ހިނގައްޖެއޭ، އެތަނުގައި ނަރުދަމާ އެޅީމާ. އެހެންވީމާ، އަޅުގަނޑުމެން އެބަޖެހޭ އެ ޚަރަދު ބަހާލެވޭނެ ގޮތްތަކެއް ހޯދަން. ހަމަކަށަވަރުންވެސް އެއީކީއެއް އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނަކަށް ނުފެންނާނެ ކަންތައްތަކެއް ނޫން. އެކަންކަމާއެކީގައި، އެ ޙަވާލުކުރުންތައް ނުވަތަ މި ސޮސައިޓީގެ ޖަމްޢިއްޔާ، ޖަމާޢަތުގެ މަސައްކަތް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިއުން. އެކަމަށް އެކަނި އަޅުގަނޑު މިއެދެނީ.
ދެން މީގެކުރީގައިވެސް އަޅުގަނޑު ދެންމެ ދަންނަވާލައިފިން. ވަރަށް ކުރިއްސުރެ ފަށައިގެން މި ޖަމާޢަތް އުފެއްދުމަށް ދިވެހިންގެ ތެރޭގައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރެވެމުންއާދެއޭ. ހަމަ އޭގެތެރޭގައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރެއްވި ބައެއް ބޭފުޅުން މިހާރު މިތަނުގައި ފެންނަން ނެތް ކަމުގައިވިޔަސްވެސް، އަޅުގަނޑު އެ ހުރިހާ ބޭފުޅުންނަށް ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން. ޚާއްޞަކޮށް، ކުރީގައި އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ޢަޒީއަށާއި، އަދި ޑޮކްޓަރ ފާތިން ޙަމީދަށް އެމަސައްކަތުގައި އެހާ ބާރަށް އުޅެދެއްވިކަމަށްޓަކައި އަޅުގަނޑު ނިހާޔަތަށް އެބޭފުޅުންނަށް ޝުކުރު ދަންނަވަން.
والحمد للّـه. ވަރަށް ބޮޑަށް ޝުކުރިއްޔާ.