Government calls on MDP to engage with Constitutional talks

The Government today called on the MDP to demonstrate its commitment to reform by formally agreeing to participate in the proposed Commonwealth-sponsored constitutional conference. Looking forward to the end-of-May Roadmap deadline for completion of the draft Constitution, the Government expressed its disappointment that the MDP had recently preferred to use the unfortunate death of Mr. Hussein Salah as an excuse for unsubstantiated attacks on the Government, rather than engage in positive dialogue on the crucial issue facing the Maldives today, namely the revision of the country’s Constitution.

Reflecting on the events surrounding the death of Mr. Hussein Salah, Chief Government Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said:

“The post mortem, which conclusively demonstrates that Mr. Salah died by drowning, offers an opportunity for the MDP to pull back from the politics of rumour and accusation, and to re-engage with the Government as a responsible party of Opposition.

Now is a crucial time for the Maldives. The people of the Maldives as well as the outside world are watching closely as we approach a key milestone in the Reform Agenda – to compile and table a new draft Constitution before the People’s Special Majlis by 31st May.

Thanks to the good offices of the Commonwealth, a window of opportunity – the proposed Constitutional Conference - is now open that will allow us to meet this deadline and in-so-doing respond to the needs and wishes of the people of the Maldives. The DRP has already agreed to attend this internationally-facilitated Conference in order to create a new, modern constitution of which we can all be proud. It is now up to the MDP to show a similar level of commitment by also agreeing to attend the Conference”.