Foreign Ministry is not operated according to reasonable standards: DRP

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), which is part of the coalition government, has said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not operated according to reasonable standards.

Speaking at a ceremony held to welcome five persons who wished to join the party, DRP Deputy Leader Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota) said that personnel of some ministries of President Waheed’s government are incompetent.

This results in the ministries failing to operate according to reasonable standards, and one example of such a ministry, according to Shareef, is Foreign Ministry.

He said that the international community spreading different stories about the Maldives following the change of government, and also the ‘inappropriate statements’ released by Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) about Maldives, is the result of employees of Foreign Ministry failing to fulfil their responsibilities.

“The fact that international media was allowed the opportunity to spread stories about Maldives which created uncertainty, and also CMAG releasing two or three statements which were not exactly beneficial to the Maldives, are evidence that employees of the Foreign Ministry failed to present our case adequately,” he said.

Shareef also said that President Waheed’s government has so far not been able to provide public services at a fast pace.

“DRP is deeply concerned that the government does not provide the necessary public services at a reasonably fast pace,” he said.

DRP said that it is an accomplishment in itself to have completed 100 days of government by a coalition government made up of parties with very different views. He noted that it is difficult for DRP to implement its policies.

“There are many things we would like to implement, strengthen, and revise. Several things need to be speeded up in terms of public services. We will work towards achieving this,” Shareef said.

He added that the ministries run by DRP are functioning ‘very well’.

“DRP’s ministers are intellectual, capable, experienced people. They are unbiased, selfless, and prioritise the nation’s interest over party’s interest,” he said.