Until now, Maldives has functioned as a monarchy: VP Deen

Vice President (VP) Mohamed Waheed Deen has said that despite the establishment of a presidential system, until now, the Maldives has functioned as a monarchy.

The VP made this statement while speaking at the Civil Service Innovation Award ceremony held yesterday.

Deen said that the system of a monarchy can only be changed by everyone in society being treated equally, and by adjusting our attitude to the changes brought about by democracy and the new Constitution.

“Not only 30 years. Not even 23 years. For a long time, I once said in an interview that even though our country is a republic, the system that exists here is a monarchy. This is the truth,” he said.

The VP said that people no longer respond to bosses with “Yes sir” – those times are long gone – and stressed that everyone must be treated equally.

He stressed the importance of a pleasant attitude when providing services, and said that this is observed among civil servants today.

Noting the lack of a wage commission in the Maldives, Deen said that the gap in civil servant incomes needs to be reduced, and to facilitate this, a tax system needs to be introduced.

He said that Maldivians are not aware of the new Constitution that came into effect with the establishment of democracy, and said that it is essential that information on the new Constitution is introduced into the school curriculum.

He said that it is just as important that government officials and Council Members are educated on the Constitution.

“We have introduced the reputed concept of democracy, but we haven’t explained the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to the members of any Council. Are the Councillors to blame? Or the people who did it? Or the people who didn’t facilitate it? Even I am responsible for this today,” he said.

The VP said that the most important factor when building a society is educating its people on the changes that come about, especially in relation to the new Constitution.