President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has declared that the Maldives is enjoying its greatest level of freedom in history through the full implementation of democratic principles, while outlining an ambitious national development agenda aimed at transforming the country into a developed nation by 2040.
Delivering his address at the official ceremony marking the Maldives' 61st Independence Day, President Muizzu said the country is "truly free" today because it has embraced the spirit of political change and strengthened democratic freedoms across all sectors.
The President said genuine national freedom can only be achieved through the full realisation of democratic rights, adding that no previous administration had implemented democratic freedoms to the extent achieved by his government.
According to President Muizzu, there are now no restrictions preventing political activity in the Maldives. He noted that unlike previous administrations, where opposition political leaders were imprisoned, all political parties and leaders are now free to operate without interference.
"No political leader has been arrested during my tenure. No former president has been imprisoned. This was once the norm in our country. Whenever a new government came to power, people expected the outgoing leader to end up in prison. That was not the spirit of political change," President Muizzu said.
He said one of his key pledges was to end the culture of political retaliation, adding that the Maldives has now been freed from what he described as a toxic political mindset. The President stated that the long-standing culture of persecution had come to an end and that democracy is now being implemented in its fullest sense.
President Muizzu further said his administration has ensured the broadest protection of democratic freedoms, including freedom of expression and press freedom, while stressing that these rights must always be exercised within the framework of the Constitution, the laws of the Maldives and the principles of Islam.
Turning to national development, President Muizzu said the Government is working to complete a wide range of development projects across the country by Independence Day 2028, describing the year as a key milestone on the path towards making the Maldives a developed nation by 2040.
The President revealed that during the Government's first two years and eight months in office, 590 development projects have been completed across various sectors. He compared this with 285 projects completed during the equivalent period under the previous Maldivian Democratic Party administration and 321 projects under the administration before that.
He added that 1,635 development projects are currently under implementation nationwide, significantly exceeding the 414 and 355 projects underway during the same period under the previous two governments.
President Muizzu said development would continue to be implemented fairly across the country under the Government's decentralised development policy, regardless of the size or population of individual islands.
He announced that by Independence Day 2028, every inhabited island is expected to have completed water and sewerage systems, waste management facilities, fitness and recreation centres, outdoor gyms, children's parks and ATM services.
Healthcare services will also be expanded, with police health centres, laboratories, CT scan facilities and dialysis services to be established in every atoll. School infrastructure will likewise be upgraded to support inclusive education throughout the country.
The President said the Government also plans to complete Quran centres, university facilities, futsal and football grounds, as well as electricity infrastructure projects. Fuel stations selling fuel at State Trading Organisation rates will be established in every atoll, while communities across each atoll will have access to an airport within a 30-minute travel time.
Additional projects planned for completion include picnic islands, bank branches, sports complexes in every atoll, housing developments, Islamic centres and council office buildings on at least 100 islands.
President Muizzu further said significant progress is expected by 2028 on the Government's initiative to develop 10 new resorts aimed at increasing tourism benefits for Maldivians. The redevelopment of roads in Malé and the construction of Villimalé Hospital are also expected to be nearing completion by then.
He said achieving these targets by 2028 would mark a major step towards fulfilling the Government's long-term vision of making the Maldives a fully developed country by 2040.
The President also announced that a new national award will be introduced from next year to recognise individuals and organisations making outstanding contributions to protecting people from the harmful effects of tobacco.
He said preventive healthcare remains one of the Government's highest priorities, highlighting the introduction of the generational tobacco ban and the nationwide vape ban as major public health measures designed to prevent tobacco addiction and protect society from the harmful effects of vaping.
President Muizzu acknowledged the important role played by civil society organisations in tobacco control and said the new award, to be presented annually from 26 July next year, will recognise those who help the greatest number of people successfully quit tobacco use.
He also said the establishment of StatePharma will provide a long-term solution to medicine shortages in the Maldives, noting that previous administrations had failed to adequately resolve the issue.
