The Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has urged the country’s national radio, Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu to expand its radio broadcasts to cover more news from the Atolls.
The Speaker made these remarks during a special interview with Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu, on the occasion of its 62nd Anniversary.
During the interview, Abdul Raheem fondly remembered his time as a radio presenter working out of the Laamu Atoll Office.
The Speaker said he had actively gathered news and information from the Atoll and presented it through a special weekly news programme dubbed ‘Atholhu Hafthaa Khabaru’.
"At that time I was working in the Laamu Atoll office. Some days the newscaster would call in sick or will be on leave. Then we had to gather and prepare the newscast. The newscaster will then come in and do the newsread. But sometimes I even had to do the newscast,” he reminisced.
The Speaker of Parliament described the importance of such programs then, insisting that it remains as important even now.
He urged Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu to take its coverage from the capital Male’ to expand its programmes to the Atolls, expressing his belief that radio still has a bright future.
"I believe that radio services should be improved and enhanced. I believe that there is a future if its coverage is widened. But it cannot be done only in Male’. It needs to reach all corners of the country,” Abdul Raheem said.
The Speaker also noted that Dhivehiraajjeyge Adu remains the oldest news broadcaster in the Maldives with 62 years in service. Therefore, he insisted that it needs to secure and preserve the future of radio in the country.