More Election Plans

The election plan is shifting into high gear this week, even though we still don't know the date of the election. The only certainty is that results must be known by the Oct. 10 deadline. The president's current term expires Nov. 10.This detailed meeting involved, among many other things, a spirited discussion of what kind of food will be catered during election night and during the period of counting the votes, however long it takes. Apparently Maldivians agree with the American TV saying, "Good television only happens on a full stomach!"

Next job: launching the computer system to count the number of appearances by each candidate on the news. We are required to do this under the equal coverage agreement that TVM and VOM signed with all the political parties and we have to get it right!

We are also launching new election graphics. We will no longer be using the old slogan "Maldives Decides" because we want to be clear that this coverage will be truly fair, balanced and different from the past. The new graphics will say, "The People Decide, 2008," which in Dhivehi is "Rayyithunge Ninmun 2008."