President Abdulla Yameen said that every citizen should become responsible and strengthen the economy in order to preserve Maldivian independence.
He said this during his speech in the National Day ceremony in Utheemu today.
He said that the efforts to take away a county’s independence will not come from guns or swords, nor will it come from spreading propaganda, but will come from attacking a country’s economic independence.
He said that the government’s goal is to transform citizens into economically responsible and independent individuals that do not rely on borrowing and asking others for financial help.
He also said that the State had been in debt in 2012, and that the current government is working on solving it. He noted that their focus on the I-Havan project was for this reason, and that even though every citizen wishes for Maldives to be as developed as Singapore, it is worth considering that both countries gained independence at around the same time, but Singapore has progressed far more than Maldives.
He said that the cause of the country’s poor state is because of a lack of discipline, since Maldives has enough human resources and organizations.
In his speech, President Yameen had also shared his dream for Maldives, and said that he will work to make the country stand on its own two feet.
He also said that while it has been 50 years since Maldives independence, the country’s situation has not changed, but there are now those willing to preserve the Maldives State and Islamic values.
Noting the sacrifices made by Bodu Thakurufaanu and his companions, he said that the military should examine their actions in order to attain morale values.
During the ceremony, Utheemu Council Leader Asraar Adam said that the last time Utheemu celebrated national Day was in 2012, and that the island residents had worked endlessly for two months to prepare for the celebrations.
Also during the ceremony, Defense Minister Adam Shareef Umar had officially released a CD of the National song prepared by MNDF, while Home Minister Umar Naseer released a separate CD made by the Utheemu Council, also containing the National song.
The company responsible for constructing the Utheemu harbor, Heavy Force, was also given a commemorative plate by the Utheemu Council leader.