Haveeru Daily an example of successful press development in Maldives: President Gayoom
19 February 2004
MALE - Haveeru Daily, published since 1 January 1979, is a good example of successful development of the press in Maldives, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said Wednesday.Honouring a special ceremony titled “Silver Jubilee Evening” to mark the newspaper’s 25 years in service, Gayoom said that the success Haveeru achieved over the past 25 years were due to the hard work, commitment and drive of the newspaper’s founders.Gayoom praised Haveeru’s invaluable service to the Maldives people and society in its 25 years of existence, and congratulated the newspaper’s chairman Dr. Mohamed Zahir Hussain, Editor Ali Rafeeq, and senior officials, writers, and staff on the occasion. He also congratulated everyone who had contributed to Haveeru in various fields and also Haveeru’s readers.Gayoom said that journalism in the Maldives over the past 60 years has achieved great developments, and said that Haveeru Daily’s 25th anniversary was a milestone in the history of Maldives’ press. He noted Haveeru’s important contribution in introducing professional journalism in Maldives and other important technological developments of the press.Gayoom said that journalism was an important social responsibility, and called on journalists to maintain integrity in reporting and covering events and issues. He said that the press plays an important role in shaping the collective mind and consensus of an entire nation. Therefore the information and opinion that reporters disseminate to its readers and the public at large should be of importance and relevance to readers, and must be of a beneficial nature in nation development.Gayoom said that he was happy that on many occasions, he had been able to work in the area of journalism in Maldives. He noted that he contributed occasionally to Haveeru and other newspapers and magazines in Maldives. He said that he hoped to use the honorary Haveeru Golden Pen, presented to him by Haveeru chairman Zahir at Wednesday’s ceremony, to write the first article he will contribute to Haveeru at the next occasion.Zahir presented both the Haveeru Golden Pen and the Haveeru Silver Book, published on the occasion to mark Haveeru’s 25 years in service, to Gayoom.At the ceremony, President Gayoom presented Haveeru Golden Pens and commemorative certificates to 19 staff of Haveeru who have been with the newspaper for more than 10 years. Gayoom also presented commemorative certificates of recognition to 15 people who had given service to Haveeru for a long time, and to seven people who were recognised as giving outstanding service to the newspaper.Haveeru chairman Zahir spoke at the ceremony, and said that President Gayoom’s gracing this important occasion was of special importance and satisfaction for the newspaper. Zahir thanked the President for his invaluable assistance over the past 25 years in Haveeru overcoming many obstacles and reaching the stage that the newspaper has reached today.Zahir said that it was a great privilege for the staff of Haveeru that Haveeru is the first newspaper in Maldives history to mark 25 years of existence. In his speech, Zahir also outlined Haveeru’s humble beginnings and the great developments the newspaper had achieved over the years.Haveeru editor Ali Rafeeq delivered the vote of thanks at the ceremony. The ceremony was attended by staff of Haveeru and high-ranking officials from the government and the private sector.