Maldives is best for birds: Former President Nasheed

Former President Nasheed has joked about the current situation in Maldives, saying that it is best for birds to live in.

When asked by Letterman on CBS ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ if it was a bad idea for people to have started building homes in the Maldives, Nasheed replied in a serious mood, “No, it’s actually best for birds.”

Nasheed goes on to say, “We started living there 2000 years ago, we are told. And we’ve had a civilisation flourishing there. Of course, after 2500 years we had our first multi-party elections in 2008. Three years after that, we are back again to our old history of 2500 years.”

With regard to climate change, Nasheed said that what happens to the Maldives today will happen to other countries tomorrow. He pointed out that Manhattan is also an island, not all that different from the Maldive islands.

Referring to the change of government and the coup, Nasheed said that even though several dissatisfied wealthy businessman contributed to it, Gayoom is the leader behind those who staged the coup.

Nasheed is in New York for the premier of the documentary film about him ‘The Island President’.