Renewing old friendships with the Maldives
IT was a time to renew old friendships when the president of the Maldives visited Salisbury at the weekend.
On hand to welcome him were businessman David Hardingham, MP John Glen and members of the Friends of Maldives.
Salisbury was home to a group of Maldivian exiles for five years from 2003, and became the launch pad for their campaign for democracy.
President Mohamed Nasheed, a former political prisoner, went to school with Mr Hardingham, who founded the Friends. His cottage in Friary Lane is now the Maldives’ Honorary Consulate.
Mr Glen was sent out to the island nation in 2007 and 2008 by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to help the Democratic Party draw up its manifesto.
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