President Mohamed Nasheed has addressed at the World Conference on Recreating South Asia: Democracy, Social Justice and Sustainable Development, that began in New Delhi, India today.
In his address, President Nasheed reiterated the government’s commitment to promote democracy and economic freedom to ensure sustainable development of the Maldives.
The President said “It is only a democracy, and a liberal capitalist system, which can deliver broad-based sustainable growth and development.”
He said liberal democracy, economic freedom with a strong social safety net were fundamental prerequisites for the development of any country.
“This is certainly the formula that we are following in the Maldives,” he added.
Speaking on building a successful democracy, the President said successful democracies were more than just separation of powers and right to vote.
He said, “Successful democracies must protect the freedoms that allow people to thrive.”
President Nasheed underlined the need for “strong political parties, a flourishing civil society and a fearless press” to protect the core freedoms of the people.
Furthermore, the President underscored that, while governments promote people’s liberties, it should also ensure businesses had freedom to prosper to achieve national progress.
“We shouldn’t fear the market or foreign investors… I do not believe that the state can, or should, play the role of private enterprise,” he said.
He said this was the reason the Maldives decided to open up its economy and invited private parties to run the country’s airport, ferry services and telecommunications.
However, he acknowledged that the market had problems unless governments create strong rules and regulations to curb market excesses.
Noting that it was only free market enterprises that create opportunities and dynamism necessary for people’s ambitions to be met, he said the government should ensure that people had their basic requirements.
“There is little point having a dynamic free market, if many people are excluded from engaging with it,” he said.
He citizens needed a degree of basic support to ensure that they had the freedom to take advantage of the opportunities created by the market.
“And so, a strong social safety net is required… a net through which none may fall, but all are free to rise above,” he stressed.
In his speech, which was followed by addresses from Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen and Mohammad Yunus, the President said:
“While we seek to shape our societies based on the core values of democracy and liberty at home I also believe we have an obligation to promote these values abroad.”
He said South Asia would benefit from the spread of democracy across the world.
“I believe it is in our interests to support the cause of democracy, whether it is in the streets of the Middle East or closer to home, in Burma,” he added.
