Reports noted that with the new Maldivinian Constitution in place, certain domestic reforms were being streamlined. These included the recent decision to place all civil servants under the direct control of the President. The rationale offered by the President’s office for such a step was to expedite the “proper functioning of the duties” of the President’s office. The new constitution overrides the Civil Service Act, which had made civil servants independent from the government1.

In other developments, Simon Hughes, President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, UK met with President Gayoom. Both sides discussed the “democratic reform agenda in Maldives2.”

• 1. “President Removes Hundreds From Remit Of Civil Service Commission,” MinivanNews, August 17, 2008, at http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=4853
• 2. “The President meets the President of the Liberal Democratic Party of UK,” Republic of the Maldives, August 25, 2008, at http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/pages/eng_news.php?news:4913:1