Ambassador to the US Mohamed Hussain Maniku of Maldives

Mohamed Hussain Maniku said the act marked the culmination of almost four years of work by the former British colonys Constitutional Assembly and is seen as “heralding a new era in the democratic history of the nation.

Maniku said the new constitution prescribes clear separation of powers, and introduces a presidential governance arrangement with a multi-party system, a parliament with strong oversight powers and local governance, and establishes several independent oversight bodies.

For the Maldives, global warming is nothing short of an existential crisis, Maniku said in remarks to President Bush upon presenting his diplomatic credentials to the White House last month.

Speaking recently at the Georgetown townhouse that has become his diplomatic residence, Maniku said that his country has been pleading with the world for decades to take climate change seriously.

Maniku was chosen, and at age 10 he moved to a boarding school in Mal.

While Maniku said he couldnt put a dollar figure to the amount the Maldives needs to cope with climate changes, experts predict tens of billions of dollars will be needed globally to help the worlds most vulnerable countries adapt.

Ambassador Maniku has had a distinguished career as a public servant joining government in 1980.

Prior to his present appointment, Ambassador Maniku was the Managing Director at the State Trading Organisation.

Even though the Maldives is still strapped for cash, Maniku says “international politics dictates that Washington is the main center of world diplomacy.

Maniku said his boss, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has been talking about climate change since 1987 (Gayoom has held power since 1978, when he won his first five-year term under the country’s tightly controlled presidential referendum process.

Maniku said he hopes that number will increase, now that Qatar Airways offers a direct connection from Washington to Malé via Doha.

During the visit, Ambassador Maniku met with the.

Ambassador briefs on political reforms 24th Sept: Maldives Ambassador to United States of America Mohamed Hussain Maniku has briefed the National Press Club on the current political situation in the Maldives, at the Afternoon Newsmaker news conference held in Washington, D.

Maldives Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Hussain Maniku has briefed the National Press Club on the political situation in the Maldives during a conference in Washington, D.

Maniku said the Maldives government is currently in consultation with various political parties, NGOs, civil society groups and the international community to strengthen the framework in preparation for the upcoming first multi-party Presidential elections set for 8 October.

Maniku said his boss, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (who has been in power since 1978), has been talking about climate change since 1987.

Running a close second to the consequences of climate change is the issue of political reform the countrys president has been in power for 30 years but Maniku says the government is making impressive progress in this arena.