Maldives can be a democratic state with Islam as its spiritual foundation, a state which promotes the moral and creative development of the people. It can be an example to all Islamic states which aspire to create open societies. It can emerge as a modern state which safeguards the individual rights of its people and promotes their aspirations for higher levels achievement. Maldives can be that modern liberal state, riding the crest of technological progress, engaging with its neighbours in the frontline of social and economic development, and an example to the rest of the world with its dynamism and youthful energy.
We need to build a society with living conditions that are comfortable and healthy for everyone, where children are educated well and fully protected, where people respect each other and enjoy community living, where the elderly receive proper care and respect, and where the spiritual needs of individuals and communities are fully met. We must have the confidence to let cultural and creative possibilities flourish.
Power when unchecked can easily become abusive. The fundamental freedoms and human rights of the people have been denied for too long. We must restore the dignity of the person, and create a new social order based on individual freedom and mutual respect. This will result in a culture of respect for diversity as well as for individual differences while safeguarding the sovereignty of the state. None have the right to impose their version of the truth on others. To be human is to be free to think and to express thought. The very reason a government exists is to safeguard the rights of its people, including their right to participate in governance. While democratic governments are led by the majority, the process of governance cannot do without parties in political parties and civil society at large. As we embark on a new course of multiparty democracy in the Maldives, it is important to underscore the role of the opposition, which must function as an effective check on the ruling party. Indeed, the opposition must become the conscience of the people and articulate ways of improving the status of the population, in arenas as diverse as health, education, environment, commerce and the provision of justice.
The Maldivian economy should be the main arena for expressing people's creativity and productivity. Individual enterprise will become the engine of future prosperity, with the state ensuring that the overall economic policies are conducive to growth. Economic growth must come with equity, and all Maldivians must have access to basic services for health, education, housing and protection. For the future, we must seek out possibilities for our people to live in Maldives and work in the global economy. Meanwhile, tourism and fisheries will continue as the backbone of the economy for the foreseeable future, and they should not be disrupted even as we explore new opportunities in the global marketplace. As the two largest industries, they must be developed to enhance employment and people's income. We must find ways to reinvest the returns from these sectors within Maldives itself.