Maldives Attorney General Husnu Sood is introducing a bill to the parliament intended to penalise and prevent antisocial behaviour.
When such a bill is passed and enacted into law, it will give the necessary powers to the police and the courts to deal with antisocial behaviour targeted in the bill. Such an Act would become an important tool to combat increasing gang-related violence, theft and disorderly conduct that disrupts public peace and harmony.
The Nasheed government and his Attorney General should be lauded for taking this initiative to prevent antisocial behaviour for the first time in our history.
It is also worth noting that much of the serious crimes, violence and theft also has a direct link to drug trafficking and addiction to it mainly among the youth in Maldives. For thirty years, the previous government took a lax attitude against drug traffickers and failed to provide proper rehabilitation and treatment to addicts. The Nasheed government has to demonstrate that it has the political will to lock up the traffickers and petty peddlers to serve out their full sentence. In the past such convicted criminals managed to come back to the streets without serving out their full sentence either because the jails were full or for other reasons.
Even if our government can deal with the serious crimes of the gangster groups and the drug barons, that would be good a beginning towards a society that maintains social harmony. It was only recently that President Nasheed participated in an event organised by the Municipality in collaboration with the Maldives Defence Force to clean up the litter dumped by public littering in all the wards of Male'. Clearly, we still have a long way to go to become a civil society which has determined its acceptable social norms and standards. Parents and teachers of schools will have to play a vital role to instill such civic norms in our young children so that our society can become a better and safer place for everyone eventually.
Our country is at the crossroad to install democratic reforms from a prolonged totalitarian form of political governance. The benefits of such reform can only be realised if members of our society can coexist peaceably. This is a change even the rich and powerful will happily welcome.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Stars honour Mandela on 91st birthday
Hordes of stars including Hollywood heavyweight actors Forest Whitaker, Whoopi Goldberg, Morgan Freemon, Susan Sarandon and Matt Damon gathered at the Radio City Music Hall concert in New York late on Saturday to pay tribute to legendary anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela on his 91st birthday.
Among the mega celebrities who sang at the concert was the former model and French president's wife Carla Bruni, who is performing for the first time after marrying President Sarkozy in January 2008.
All proceeds from the major charity concert will go to Mandela's 46664 campaign, 46664 being Mandela's prison number during the 27 years he spent in the African jail.
This year's birthday marks the inaugural Mandela Day, initiated by his charitable Mandela foundation in honour of the much-loved icon.
Mr. Mandela, who became South Africa's first black president in 1994 and served only one term did not attend the celebration in New York due to his frail health. The Nobel Peace Laureate celebrated his 91st birthday at home in Johannesburg with a visit from President Jacob Zuma and the whole executive of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress.
Mr. Mandela has become a powerful global brand that symbolises forgiveness, inclusiveness and reconciliation. He still campaigns extensively for children and AIDS awareness and is seen as one of the world's most respected elder statesmen, despite having officially retired from public duty in 2004.
Listen to this New York Post where some stars have given their views about the popular leader.
Among the mega celebrities who sang at the concert was the former model and French president's wife Carla Bruni, who is performing for the first time after marrying President Sarkozy in January 2008.
All proceeds from the major charity concert will go to Mandela's 46664 campaign, 46664 being Mandela's prison number during the 27 years he spent in the African jail.
This year's birthday marks the inaugural Mandela Day, initiated by his charitable Mandela foundation in honour of the much-loved icon.
Mr. Mandela, who became South Africa's first black president in 1994 and served only one term did not attend the celebration in New York due to his frail health. The Nobel Peace Laureate celebrated his 91st birthday at home in Johannesburg with a visit from President Jacob Zuma and the whole executive of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress.
Mr. Mandela has become a powerful global brand that symbolises forgiveness, inclusiveness and reconciliation. He still campaigns extensively for children and AIDS awareness and is seen as one of the world's most respected elder statesmen, despite having officially retired from public duty in 2004.
Listen to this New York Post where some stars have given their views about the popular leader.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Bringing focus on the dangers of unbridled capitalism
Pope Benedict XVI has brought focus on the "grave deviations and failures" of capitalism exposed by the financial crisis and issued a strong call this week for a "true world political authority" to oversee a return to ethics in the global economy. The Pope's call came just before the Summit in Italy of the G8 heads of Government, attended by 39 heads of government and international institutions. The Pope's concerns to find new "forms of Redistribution of Wealth" is likely to fuel debate on the failure of rich nations, notably Italy and France, to honour past aid commitments to poor nations.
The Pontiff's call was also to find a sustainable business development model in the broadest sense, and doing business with a social responsibility. It is capitalism in a globalised world where the market forces are regulated by a strong oversight authority. Enterprises are needed to seek a new way of understanding business that would respect the dignity of workers and foster the "common good by prioritising ethics and social responsibility over dividend returns" said the Pope.
The prevailing economic paradigm in most of the countries of the world including Maldives is capitalism.
Eight months after President Nasheed took office, our government is still pre-occupied with the old issues including investigating the corrupt practices of the Gayoom government that remained in power for thirty years. For the legislative agenda of the Nasheed government to become effective, the government needs to pass several bills to fulfil their election pledges, including the decentralisation of power to the provinces. These bills that are necessary to bring structural, social and economic reforms are getting hindered by the opposition party holding the majority in the parliament . They have placed their own party politics over the national interest and the future direction of the country.
Moving away from the crony capitalism of the previous government, the Nasheed government is embarking on initiatives to privatise state-controlled industries and empower the private sector to do business. But such private sector empowerment allowing for a more business-friendly environment and the government pulling out of doing business is not a panacea to root out corruption or solve all of our problems.
If we are to learn anything from the 2008/9 financial meltdown of the United States, the bastion of free market capitalism, we now know that unless adequate oversight regulations are enforced timely the same financial market that makes people rich can also ruin livelihoods with millions of people losing their jobs, bankrupt companies and even countries. The financial collapse that began in the Wall Street due to greed, reckless risk-taking, and dangerous speculation of investors, traders and bankers, quickly spread all across the globe bringing the worst recession since The Great Depression of the 1930s. The US federal oversight authorities failed to act for far too long until the economic roof fell on their head.
The Nasheed government needs to maintain strong oversight institutions in Maldives entrusted with the authority and responsibility to monitor our stock market with proper disclosure and good governance. Such oversight authorities should hold financial market players like the banks and financial brokers accountable, thus reducing the room for market manipulation. A well educated citizen who understands the financial markets is the best tool to avoid huge losses and financial havoc.
Maldives can only achieve the ideals of a strong democracy by building a strong economy that values innovation and provides opportunity to its citizens.
The present government needs to lay down a firm foundation of the institutional framework for good governance and create a system that provides a more equitable distribution of wealth. Unless the citizens reap the benefits from such reform process, it is likely that our country could slip back into crony capitalism and the "business as usual" system with another change of government. If that happens we will be back to the old system that promoted widespread corruption and allowed open borders for illegal drug traffickers who made tons of money while addicting and killing our youth.
The Pontiff's call was also to find a sustainable business development model in the broadest sense, and doing business with a social responsibility. It is capitalism in a globalised world where the market forces are regulated by a strong oversight authority. Enterprises are needed to seek a new way of understanding business that would respect the dignity of workers and foster the "common good by prioritising ethics and social responsibility over dividend returns" said the Pope.
The prevailing economic paradigm in most of the countries of the world including Maldives is capitalism.
Eight months after President Nasheed took office, our government is still pre-occupied with the old issues including investigating the corrupt practices of the Gayoom government that remained in power for thirty years. For the legislative agenda of the Nasheed government to become effective, the government needs to pass several bills to fulfil their election pledges, including the decentralisation of power to the provinces. These bills that are necessary to bring structural, social and economic reforms are getting hindered by the opposition party holding the majority in the parliament . They have placed their own party politics over the national interest and the future direction of the country.
Moving away from the crony capitalism of the previous government, the Nasheed government is embarking on initiatives to privatise state-controlled industries and empower the private sector to do business. But such private sector empowerment allowing for a more business-friendly environment and the government pulling out of doing business is not a panacea to root out corruption or solve all of our problems.
If we are to learn anything from the 2008/9 financial meltdown of the United States, the bastion of free market capitalism, we now know that unless adequate oversight regulations are enforced timely the same financial market that makes people rich can also ruin livelihoods with millions of people losing their jobs, bankrupt companies and even countries. The financial collapse that began in the Wall Street due to greed, reckless risk-taking, and dangerous speculation of investors, traders and bankers, quickly spread all across the globe bringing the worst recession since The Great Depression of the 1930s. The US federal oversight authorities failed to act for far too long until the economic roof fell on their head.
The Nasheed government needs to maintain strong oversight institutions in Maldives entrusted with the authority and responsibility to monitor our stock market with proper disclosure and good governance. Such oversight authorities should hold financial market players like the banks and financial brokers accountable, thus reducing the room for market manipulation. A well educated citizen who understands the financial markets is the best tool to avoid huge losses and financial havoc.
Maldives can only achieve the ideals of a strong democracy by building a strong economy that values innovation and provides opportunity to its citizens.
The present government needs to lay down a firm foundation of the institutional framework for good governance and create a system that provides a more equitable distribution of wealth. Unless the citizens reap the benefits from such reform process, it is likely that our country could slip back into crony capitalism and the "business as usual" system with another change of government. If that happens we will be back to the old system that promoted widespread corruption and allowed open borders for illegal drug traffickers who made tons of money while addicting and killing our youth.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Grim forecast with El Nino set to return
The dreaded news of warming patterns of the El Nino weather conditions comes in the midst of the worst global recession since the Great Depression of the 1920s. The last severe El Nino was in 1998, when the Asian financial crisis was at its peak.
Reports say the 1998 El Nino killed over 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage to crops, infrastructure and mines in Australia and Asia.
According to a report from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday, an El Nino weather pattern this year appears almost certain, raising the prospect of drought in Australia and a weaker monsoon in India.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall so far has been well below normal and the onset of monsoon in large rain-dependent agricultural states of central India has been delayed, forcing water levels to fall sharply and hampering irrigation in many parts. The monsoon rains are the lifeblood for farmers in India. Its faltering sugar crop is a prime reason why sugar prices are at their highest levels in three years.
El Nino is driven by an abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The severe drought caused by the deadly cycle of El Nino across the Asia-Pacific region will destroy crops and increase the price of commodities like wheat. Australia is one of the world's biggest wheat producers and has barely recovered from the worst drought in 100 years which hit a few years ago.
The mainstay of Maldivian economy is tourism. The beauty of tranquil Maldives includes the lagoons of crystal clear water surrounding the islands with coral reefs and brightly colored schools of fish. The El Nino of 1998 wreaked havoc on the hard corals of Maldives due to the extensive bleaching. However, these reefs have subsequently recovered showing their resilience to bring back the spectacular colours of marine growth and the bright-coloured fish.
For the global economy still in recession, the El Nino of 2009 could not have come at a worse time.
Reports say the 1998 El Nino killed over 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage to crops, infrastructure and mines in Australia and Asia.
According to a report from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday, an El Nino weather pattern this year appears almost certain, raising the prospect of drought in Australia and a weaker monsoon in India.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall so far has been well below normal and the onset of monsoon in large rain-dependent agricultural states of central India has been delayed, forcing water levels to fall sharply and hampering irrigation in many parts. The monsoon rains are the lifeblood for farmers in India. Its faltering sugar crop is a prime reason why sugar prices are at their highest levels in three years.
El Nino is driven by an abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The severe drought caused by the deadly cycle of El Nino across the Asia-Pacific region will destroy crops and increase the price of commodities like wheat. Australia is one of the world's biggest wheat producers and has barely recovered from the worst drought in 100 years which hit a few years ago.
The mainstay of Maldivian economy is tourism. The beauty of tranquil Maldives includes the lagoons of crystal clear water surrounding the islands with coral reefs and brightly colored schools of fish. The El Nino of 1998 wreaked havoc on the hard corals of Maldives due to the extensive bleaching. However, these reefs have subsequently recovered showing their resilience to bring back the spectacular colours of marine growth and the bright-coloured fish.
For the global economy still in recession, the El Nino of 2009 could not have come at a worse time.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
IMF projects weak ecocomic recovery
Releasing an update of its April World Economic Outlook on Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund has projected a slightly improved economic forecast for the global economy, thanks to the macroeconomic and financial policies said the IMF.
According to the IMF's latest forecast, the world's economic growth during the 2009–2010 period is now projected to be 0.5 percentage points higher than that projected in the April 2009 World Economic Outlook, reaching 2.5 percent in 2010. Although the global economy is beginning to pull out of the worst recession of the post war period, the IMF also warns that the recovery will be uneven and sluggish.
Link to the IMF article.
According to the IMF's latest forecast, the world's economic growth during the 2009–2010 period is now projected to be 0.5 percentage points higher than that projected in the April 2009 World Economic Outlook, reaching 2.5 percent in 2010. Although the global economy is beginning to pull out of the worst recession of the post war period, the IMF also warns that the recovery will be uneven and sluggish.
Link to the IMF article.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
A Historical Lesson on how Nasir Stopped Corruption
An article on Haveeru Online details how former president Ibrahim Nasir(2 September 1926 to 22 November 2008) put an end to the corrupt influences of the vora traders, first intitiated by the republic's first president Mohamed Amin Didi(20 July 1910 to 19 January 1954).
What an irony it is that for a country with a 100 per cent Muslim population, within the 30 years of the Egypt's Azhar scholars regime led by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, our government has become mired in massive corruption and faces difficult social problems such as increasing crimes, poor healthcare and education and cramped living conditions. Drug addiction, a health problem is rampant and affects nearly every family in Maldives. Such addiction which is a direct result of the Gayoom government's failure to stop drug trafficking, is deemed only as a crime by the same government who failed to provide proper treatment and rehabilitation for the addicts. They promoted Maldives as the idyllic paradise with "a sunny side of life" to woo wealthy foreign tourists who make the rich even richer, thus creating an ever increasing income gap between the rich and poor while the country continues to make further economic progress.
Maldives has followed the megalomaniacal path of leaders like Iraq's Saddam Hussein whose mad quest for self glorification has brought disastrous consequences for his country and its people.
What an irony it is that for a country with a 100 per cent Muslim population, within the 30 years of the Egypt's Azhar scholars regime led by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, our government has become mired in massive corruption and faces difficult social problems such as increasing crimes, poor healthcare and education and cramped living conditions. Drug addiction, a health problem is rampant and affects nearly every family in Maldives. Such addiction which is a direct result of the Gayoom government's failure to stop drug trafficking, is deemed only as a crime by the same government who failed to provide proper treatment and rehabilitation for the addicts. They promoted Maldives as the idyllic paradise with "a sunny side of life" to woo wealthy foreign tourists who make the rich even richer, thus creating an ever increasing income gap between the rich and poor while the country continues to make further economic progress.
Maldives has followed the megalomaniacal path of leaders like Iraq's Saddam Hussein whose mad quest for self glorification has brought disastrous consequences for his country and its people.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Stage is set for political confrontation
Provincial results of the 77 parliamentary seats contested in this year's elections show the following results.
MDP 26, DRP 28, IND 13, PA 7, DQP 2, REP 1, TOTAL 77.
No single party has secured the majority in the new parliament i.e,39 seats. It appears DRP and PA coalition with 35 seats together with independents who could be lobbied to their side could form the majority voting bloc.
This is a huge setback for the MDP and it will make it very difficult to pass their legislative agenda. In order to fulfil the pledges in their election manifesto, MDP needs to pass 65 bills on transport, taxation, public utilities, housing, health insurance, privatisation, and reforming the drug laws, penal code and criminal justice system. We will have to wait and see the horse trading that will take place inside the parliament to pass any of these bills.
MDP who were confident of securing 50 seats must be wondering what went wrong.
Speculation is rife that MDP government's refusal to hold the leaders of the previous DRP government accountable for the numerous cases of wrong doings including the financial irregularities cited by the independent Auditor General has led the electorate to turn against the MDP as show by the election results. Whatever is the merit of this argument, parliament will be in gridlock over several legislative bills of the MDP because the opposition is out to prove that the current government has failed and is unable fulfil its promises.
President Nasheed has to now move beyond the hard-nosed campaign rhetoric and prove himself to be a national leader capable of lifting this country out of the rut that it has endured for the last 30 years.
MDP 26, DRP 28, IND 13, PA 7, DQP 2, REP 1, TOTAL 77.
No single party has secured the majority in the new parliament i.e,39 seats. It appears DRP and PA coalition with 35 seats together with independents who could be lobbied to their side could form the majority voting bloc.
This is a huge setback for the MDP and it will make it very difficult to pass their legislative agenda. In order to fulfil the pledges in their election manifesto, MDP needs to pass 65 bills on transport, taxation, public utilities, housing, health insurance, privatisation, and reforming the drug laws, penal code and criminal justice system. We will have to wait and see the horse trading that will take place inside the parliament to pass any of these bills.
MDP who were confident of securing 50 seats must be wondering what went wrong.
Speculation is rife that MDP government's refusal to hold the leaders of the previous DRP government accountable for the numerous cases of wrong doings including the financial irregularities cited by the independent Auditor General has led the electorate to turn against the MDP as show by the election results. Whatever is the merit of this argument, parliament will be in gridlock over several legislative bills of the MDP because the opposition is out to prove that the current government has failed and is unable fulfil its promises.
President Nasheed has to now move beyond the hard-nosed campaign rhetoric and prove himself to be a national leader capable of lifting this country out of the rut that it has endured for the last 30 years.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Waging deceptive politics and misleading the public
One profession in Maldives has so far escaped the high standards and accountability that the present reform process has brought about. The politicians. Higher standards are expected in most other professions including civil servants and everyone from public company directors to doctors. Politicians have always acted with impunity in Maldives. The MDP while in opposition to the Gayoom government cited numerous cases of fraud, torture and alleged killings by the state. None of these cases have been taken up by the MDP government with a view to put the past behind us by going through the kind of restorative justice-a truth and reconciliation commission that they promised during the presidential campaign, where the perpetrators of crimes face their victims seeking a cathartic reconciliation.
We now have a multi-party political system and the separation of powers- the executive, the legislature and an independent judiciary. The bureaucracy of the government now comes under the independent Civil Service Commission. Other independent agencies prominently playing their roles are the Human Rights Commission and Auditor General.
The two major political parties that dominate the national politics are the Maldives Democratic Party, the MDP whose leader Mohamed Nasheed won the first multi-party presidential contest deposing the Divehi Rayyitunge Party, the DRP's zaeem Maumoon Abdul Gayoom whose remained in power for 30 years. Now the DRP is the main opposition party. Clearly the electorate has voted for change in leadership and a change in the direction of the country.
In the run up to the first multi-party contested parliamentary election to be held on 9th May 09, the two main political parties- MDP and DRP are engaged in endless bickering of the gripes of what's wrong with each party. The country has many pressing problems to deal with which includes a faltering economy and the growing illegal substance abuse and drug addiction among the youth of the country. The political parties have not engaged to find common ground and positive outcomes of these difficult problems that are faced by our small communities. Instead, political debates on the campaign trail from both the DRP and MDP have become opportunities for telling outrageous lies and ridiculing the opponents. In a free society that has freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution, we cannot force politicians to tell the truth or face litigation for that is not practical.
It is up to the politicians to decide standards of honesty and ethics that will enable voters to elect capable politicians who will rise up above partisan politics to do what is good for the people and the country. Even with such high standards politicians can engage in vibrant political debate without resorting to the name calling and the gutter politics that has now become a source of amusement to the public.
We now have a multi-party political system and the separation of powers- the executive, the legislature and an independent judiciary. The bureaucracy of the government now comes under the independent Civil Service Commission. Other independent agencies prominently playing their roles are the Human Rights Commission and Auditor General.
The two major political parties that dominate the national politics are the Maldives Democratic Party, the MDP whose leader Mohamed Nasheed won the first multi-party presidential contest deposing the Divehi Rayyitunge Party, the DRP's zaeem Maumoon Abdul Gayoom whose remained in power for 30 years. Now the DRP is the main opposition party. Clearly the electorate has voted for change in leadership and a change in the direction of the country.
In the run up to the first multi-party contested parliamentary election to be held on 9th May 09, the two main political parties- MDP and DRP are engaged in endless bickering of the gripes of what's wrong with each party. The country has many pressing problems to deal with which includes a faltering economy and the growing illegal substance abuse and drug addiction among the youth of the country. The political parties have not engaged to find common ground and positive outcomes of these difficult problems that are faced by our small communities. Instead, political debates on the campaign trail from both the DRP and MDP have become opportunities for telling outrageous lies and ridiculing the opponents. In a free society that has freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution, we cannot force politicians to tell the truth or face litigation for that is not practical.
It is up to the politicians to decide standards of honesty and ethics that will enable voters to elect capable politicians who will rise up above partisan politics to do what is good for the people and the country. Even with such high standards politicians can engage in vibrant political debate without resorting to the name calling and the gutter politics that has now become a source of amusement to the public.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Vitamin B9 treats allergy, asthma
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, essential for the health of red blood cells and known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects, may also suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms.
Johns Hopkins scientists, who conducted the first ever study examining the link between blood levels of folate, the naturally occurring form of folic acid and allergies, said results add to mounting evidence that folate can help regulate inflammation.
Recent studies, including research from Hopkins, have found a link between folate levels and inflammation-mediated diseases, including heart disease.
Cautioning that its far too soon to recommend folic acid supplements to prevent or treat people with asthma and allergies, researchers emphasise that more research needs to be done to confirm their results, and to establish safe doses and risks.
Reviewing the medical records of more than 8,000 people aged between two and 85 years, investigators tracked the effect of folate levels on respiratory and allergic symptoms and on levels of IgE antibodies, immune system markers that rise in response to an allergen.
People with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and a lower likelihood of asthma, researchers report.
"Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms," said lead investigator Elizabeth Matsui.
"But we still need to figure out the exact mechanism behind it, and to do so we need studies that follow people receiving treatment with folic acid, before we even consider supplementation with folic acid to treat or prevent allergies and asthma."
The current recommendation for daily dietary intake of folic acid is 400 micrograms for healthy men and non-pregnant women. Many cereals and grain products are already fortified with folate. Folate is also found naturally in green, leafy vegetables, beans and nuts, said a Hopkins release.
The study appeared online in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
Source: The Times of India
Johns Hopkins scientists, who conducted the first ever study examining the link between blood levels of folate, the naturally occurring form of folic acid and allergies, said results add to mounting evidence that folate can help regulate inflammation.
Recent studies, including research from Hopkins, have found a link between folate levels and inflammation-mediated diseases, including heart disease.
Cautioning that its far too soon to recommend folic acid supplements to prevent or treat people with asthma and allergies, researchers emphasise that more research needs to be done to confirm their results, and to establish safe doses and risks.
Reviewing the medical records of more than 8,000 people aged between two and 85 years, investigators tracked the effect of folate levels on respiratory and allergic symptoms and on levels of IgE antibodies, immune system markers that rise in response to an allergen.
People with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and a lower likelihood of asthma, researchers report.
"Our findings are a clear indication that folic acid may indeed help regulate immune response to allergens, and may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms," said lead investigator Elizabeth Matsui.
"But we still need to figure out the exact mechanism behind it, and to do so we need studies that follow people receiving treatment with folic acid, before we even consider supplementation with folic acid to treat or prevent allergies and asthma."
The current recommendation for daily dietary intake of folic acid is 400 micrograms for healthy men and non-pregnant women. Many cereals and grain products are already fortified with folate. Folate is also found naturally in green, leafy vegetables, beans and nuts, said a Hopkins release.
The study appeared online in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
Source: The Times of India
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The blame game of a Failing State
Following the murder of a youth recently, the acting home minister and police commissioner gave a press conference explaining the reasons for the uncontrolled street violence and escalating crimes. It was revealed that a contributing factor for the epidemic of violence was the release of more than 500 prisoners by the previous government. If they were dangerous criminals sentenced to be locked up, then why did the previous government release them free? Should those responsible in the previous government not be summoned to answer why they created this uncontrollable risk to the safety of society?
At what point in time will the current government have to take ownership of these problems that they inherited from the previous government? At some point, the present government has to stop passing the buck and deal with these problems. If the previous government has committed serious crimes, then the Nasheed government has to rise up to the task to expose them and bring those responsible to justice. Due process of the law has to be given to the alleged offenders.
In the prosecutor general's annual report, the state's prosecutor informs that he does not have the required staff and office space to do his his job. Most of the cases that the police have sent for prosecution remain unattended.
Presently this government is going through the decentralisation of public services in Male' to provinces and privatisation of public companies. Decentralisation and privatisation will bring greater benefit to society. It will ease some pressures on the capital Male' which is so over crowded that it is about to burst at the seams. This situation did not come about only because of the centralised method of control. The main reason is that we allowed an incompetent and uncaring government to go on for too long.
If officials holding responsibility in the provinces also are incompetent and uncaring, then we could up in a worse situation than where we are now. To reap the benefits of the decentralisation, responsible officials in the provinces need to be trained and motivated to serve for the good of the public. If we cannot do that, we certainly are on our way to become a failed state if we are not one already. Some of the former colonised countries like those in Africa prove the case that with bad and corrupt local leaders, the people have to suffer one tragedy after another. They may have escaped the injustices of their colonial masters but not the injustices of their own leaders.
How ironical is it that the country that has a "sunny side" as a peaceful paradise for rich foreign tourists is unable provide peace to its own citizens by locking up convicted criminals. Rubbing salt to the raw wound, the DRP government that caused these problems by releasing convicted prisoners is now protesting to protect the police- this time playing the politics of the opposition. The MDP government has so far refused to make the call on those who committed atrocities and still continue to wreak havoc on society.
Unfortunately for Maldivians, it is the government that has been the major cause of our biggest problems- from gangsters and violence to trafficking illegal drugs which has addicted a third of our youth.
At what point in time will the current government have to take ownership of these problems that they inherited from the previous government? At some point, the present government has to stop passing the buck and deal with these problems. If the previous government has committed serious crimes, then the Nasheed government has to rise up to the task to expose them and bring those responsible to justice. Due process of the law has to be given to the alleged offenders.
In the prosecutor general's annual report, the state's prosecutor informs that he does not have the required staff and office space to do his his job. Most of the cases that the police have sent for prosecution remain unattended.
Presently this government is going through the decentralisation of public services in Male' to provinces and privatisation of public companies. Decentralisation and privatisation will bring greater benefit to society. It will ease some pressures on the capital Male' which is so over crowded that it is about to burst at the seams. This situation did not come about only because of the centralised method of control. The main reason is that we allowed an incompetent and uncaring government to go on for too long.
If officials holding responsibility in the provinces also are incompetent and uncaring, then we could up in a worse situation than where we are now. To reap the benefits of the decentralisation, responsible officials in the provinces need to be trained and motivated to serve for the good of the public. If we cannot do that, we certainly are on our way to become a failed state if we are not one already. Some of the former colonised countries like those in Africa prove the case that with bad and corrupt local leaders, the people have to suffer one tragedy after another. They may have escaped the injustices of their colonial masters but not the injustices of their own leaders.
How ironical is it that the country that has a "sunny side" as a peaceful paradise for rich foreign tourists is unable provide peace to its own citizens by locking up convicted criminals. Rubbing salt to the raw wound, the DRP government that caused these problems by releasing convicted prisoners is now protesting to protect the police- this time playing the politics of the opposition. The MDP government has so far refused to make the call on those who committed atrocities and still continue to wreak havoc on society.
Unfortunately for Maldivians, it is the government that has been the major cause of our biggest problems- from gangsters and violence to trafficking illegal drugs which has addicted a third of our youth.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Political Parties Promoting Hatred
The multi party political system came into being in Maldives as a means to find a way to remove a president who was serving his 6th consecutive term of 5 years. Historically it has been very hard for Maldivian leaders to relinquish power.
Politics in Maldives has not been driven by any ideology or political philosophy of thinking (such as liberalism or conservatism in the US- the model that we are following), or even on the basis of Islam. All political parties have used Islam for political convenience. All parties insist that Maldives must remain a 100 per cent Muslim nation, with no real desire to deliver social justice that is strongly emphasised in Islam.
For more than 30 years we had no coherent policy on economic development, building infrastructure and housing, providing health care and quality education, or even maintaining social and religious harmony. It was political expediency at best. Just like the dictatorships in the middle east, our government vigorously pursued the extravagant trappings of power while neglecting the poor.
Now our nation is preparing to elect the members of parliament under the new presidential system. It took an MDP coalition to bring down the DRP government. Before the month was up for the MDP led government, Gasim Ibrahim, the wealthy businessman and philanthropist broke ranks with MDP. Although Maldivians have begun to see how fickle-minded these politicians are, they have not fully realised the horse trading that political parties indulge to buy over elected members to increase their chances to govern the nation.
Regardless of which party they represent, most Maldivians do not trust their elected officials because of the past experience. Politicians who needed their vote would appear on their doorstep once in 5 years. The promises they make are routinely broken and the electorate has turned cynical.
Few political parties except the MDP and DRP have developed into national party systems capable of organising candidates for elections or mobilise support to sway public support for party policies.
When the DRP was in power, they challenged their opponents not against the merit of how they wanted to improve what was wrong but by unleashing vicious personal attacks. It appeared as though no one had any reputation to protect. Now the DRP is in opposition. Its main role has to be to question the government and hold them accountable to the public. DRP should be able to offer better alternatives to the MDP led government's decentralisation- the main policy of this government. Where there is wide public support for a government's policy, it is in the public interest for the opposition to support such policy. The MDP and DRP and other political parties will have to learn how work together for the public good.
Even in this adversarial system, the public wants these politicians to work for their good. The personal attacks and vitriol need not be part of that process.
Politics in Maldives has not been driven by any ideology or political philosophy of thinking (such as liberalism or conservatism in the US- the model that we are following), or even on the basis of Islam. All political parties have used Islam for political convenience. All parties insist that Maldives must remain a 100 per cent Muslim nation, with no real desire to deliver social justice that is strongly emphasised in Islam.
For more than 30 years we had no coherent policy on economic development, building infrastructure and housing, providing health care and quality education, or even maintaining social and religious harmony. It was political expediency at best. Just like the dictatorships in the middle east, our government vigorously pursued the extravagant trappings of power while neglecting the poor.
Now our nation is preparing to elect the members of parliament under the new presidential system. It took an MDP coalition to bring down the DRP government. Before the month was up for the MDP led government, Gasim Ibrahim, the wealthy businessman and philanthropist broke ranks with MDP. Although Maldivians have begun to see how fickle-minded these politicians are, they have not fully realised the horse trading that political parties indulge to buy over elected members to increase their chances to govern the nation.
Regardless of which party they represent, most Maldivians do not trust their elected officials because of the past experience. Politicians who needed their vote would appear on their doorstep once in 5 years. The promises they make are routinely broken and the electorate has turned cynical.
Few political parties except the MDP and DRP have developed into national party systems capable of organising candidates for elections or mobilise support to sway public support for party policies.
When the DRP was in power, they challenged their opponents not against the merit of how they wanted to improve what was wrong but by unleashing vicious personal attacks. It appeared as though no one had any reputation to protect. Now the DRP is in opposition. Its main role has to be to question the government and hold them accountable to the public. DRP should be able to offer better alternatives to the MDP led government's decentralisation- the main policy of this government. Where there is wide public support for a government's policy, it is in the public interest for the opposition to support such policy. The MDP and DRP and other political parties will have to learn how work together for the public good.
Even in this adversarial system, the public wants these politicians to work for their good. The personal attacks and vitriol need not be part of that process.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
"Zero Tolerance" against illegal drugs
During the campaign for the presidential election, candidate Nasheed now president has said that some of the people will not be in all of their senses all the time. His view is that some of the people will take some kind of drug seeking the high once a day or once a week. He believes that 'zero tolerance' of drugs does not work and it is better to control the hard drugs and determine which soft drugs can be allowed under the law. The conservative party of the United Kingdom, who advises Nasheed takes a lenient view of soft drug offences in the UK.
For thirty years we were governed by the Gayoom government and some of their most powerful people had no conscience. These people were sociopaths driven also by their narcissistic feelings- the deadly combination of traits that was found on people who committed history's most horrendous crimes against humanity. The Gayoom government did not allow fire arms into the country because such arms could have been used to bring down their government. This same government kept their eyes closed to the illegal drug trade. By not allocating the manpower and resources to stop the illegal drug trade, they allowed their henchman and officials to make tons of money while addicting our youth. The Nasheed government should not play this hypocritical game.
If president Nasheed feels that some soft drugs are OK, he should get the Islamic ministry to determine what soft drugs are allowed in Islam, even on medical grounds. The public should be informed very clearly on what is allowed, how it is allowed and what is not allowed.
If all intoxicants are prohibited in Islam, then president Nasheed needs to get his act together and exercise the political will to stop the illegal drug trade. The price of inaction is too great for our country and our future generations.
For thirty years we were governed by the Gayoom government and some of their most powerful people had no conscience. These people were sociopaths driven also by their narcissistic feelings- the deadly combination of traits that was found on people who committed history's most horrendous crimes against humanity. The Gayoom government did not allow fire arms into the country because such arms could have been used to bring down their government. This same government kept their eyes closed to the illegal drug trade. By not allocating the manpower and resources to stop the illegal drug trade, they allowed their henchman and officials to make tons of money while addicting our youth. The Nasheed government should not play this hypocritical game.
If president Nasheed feels that some soft drugs are OK, he should get the Islamic ministry to determine what soft drugs are allowed in Islam, even on medical grounds. The public should be informed very clearly on what is allowed, how it is allowed and what is not allowed.
If all intoxicants are prohibited in Islam, then president Nasheed needs to get his act together and exercise the political will to stop the illegal drug trade. The price of inaction is too great for our country and our future generations.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
To forgive and to forget, but about the accountability?
When President Ibrahim Nasir resigned in 1978 for health reasons, he had modernized the isolated islands of Maldives and opened the country to the rest of the world. He started the tourism industry. He is the hero of our independence. Despite the fact that this was a smooth transfer of power, everything that could go wrong went wrong.
Nasir was demonised, caricatures were drawn and the national hero was disgraced and humiliated in a festival of parades shouting abuse on loud speakers. Nasir's ministers like Abdul Hannan Haleem and Moomina Haleem were abused when ever they stepped out of their home. Even their children were not spared the indignity of this barbaric behaviour. This was the biginning of the 30 years of the Gayoom presidency that included Azhar scholars in top positions of our government.
President Nasheed says that in order for us to progress and move forward, we must forgive and forget. These are noble objectives that we can agree to. But what about the case for accountability?
By the time the Gayoom presidency ended, one-third of our youth were addicted to illegal drugs.
Of of all the social problems that our country has, the abuse of illegal drugs by our youth is the most severe problem.
Drug addiction is an illness. The addiction affects the brain. Although initial drug use might be voluntary, once addiction develops, the brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use.
The impact of addiction can be far reaching. Among the deadly diseases, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease can all be affected by drug abuse. Some of these effects occur when drugs are used at high doses or after prolonged use, however, some may occur after just one use. Heroin, one of the most highly addictive and destructive drugs in the world is the most frequently abused drug in the Maldives, and there are increasing reports of injection drug use.
Maldivian government has criminalised this addiction and the drug addicts are locked up without giving them the necessary treatment. This addiction needs to be addressed as a health issue. Urgent action is needed to provide rehabilitation to the addicts. The Maldivian government has failed to prosecute those who violate the drug laws of the country. According to a report in Haveeru yesterday, a court in Male' ordered to release six individuals who were involved in trafficking drugs because the State has not prosecuted them while they were locked up for six months. This kind of lax attitude will never stop the import of drugs into our country.
This painful addiction would never have reached this stage, if our government had the wherewithal to take serious action to stop the trafficking. It is time for the Maldivian Government to wake up to the reality and help to save our youth.
Nasir was demonised, caricatures were drawn and the national hero was disgraced and humiliated in a festival of parades shouting abuse on loud speakers. Nasir's ministers like Abdul Hannan Haleem and Moomina Haleem were abused when ever they stepped out of their home. Even their children were not spared the indignity of this barbaric behaviour. This was the biginning of the 30 years of the Gayoom presidency that included Azhar scholars in top positions of our government.
President Nasheed says that in order for us to progress and move forward, we must forgive and forget. These are noble objectives that we can agree to. But what about the case for accountability?
By the time the Gayoom presidency ended, one-third of our youth were addicted to illegal drugs.
Of of all the social problems that our country has, the abuse of illegal drugs by our youth is the most severe problem.
Drug addiction is an illness. The addiction affects the brain. Although initial drug use might be voluntary, once addiction develops, the brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use.
The impact of addiction can be far reaching. Among the deadly diseases, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease can all be affected by drug abuse. Some of these effects occur when drugs are used at high doses or after prolonged use, however, some may occur after just one use. Heroin, one of the most highly addictive and destructive drugs in the world is the most frequently abused drug in the Maldives, and there are increasing reports of injection drug use.
Maldivian government has criminalised this addiction and the drug addicts are locked up without giving them the necessary treatment. This addiction needs to be addressed as a health issue. Urgent action is needed to provide rehabilitation to the addicts. The Maldivian government has failed to prosecute those who violate the drug laws of the country. According to a report in Haveeru yesterday, a court in Male' ordered to release six individuals who were involved in trafficking drugs because the State has not prosecuted them while they were locked up for six months. This kind of lax attitude will never stop the import of drugs into our country.
This painful addiction would never have reached this stage, if our government had the wherewithal to take serious action to stop the trafficking. It is time for the Maldivian Government to wake up to the reality and help to save our youth.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Islamic Finance: a safer bet?
The global economic crisis has handed the proponents of Islamic finance a “golden opportunity” to show that it is a better alternative to Western-style capitalism. That, at least, was what Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told participants at an Islamic economic conference in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Islamic finance, argued Datuk Seri Najib, could become a model for change because it prohibits many of the risky activities that triggered the current crisis. He may have a point.(link)
Maldivian government has been in talks with the biggest Islamic Bank in Bahrain to set up an islamic bank in Maldives.
What happened to this project?
If this project goes through, Maldivians can obtain finance to build their homes without the fear of being thrown out of their homes when the unpaid compounded interest runs higher than the principal loan taken. We need the Nasheed government and sharia scholars specialized in islamic banking to make islamic banking a reality in Maldives.
Capitalism is taking a battering in the West because of the greed of top level executives who have caused some of the biggest banks in America and Britain to go into insolvency, forcing the governments to step in and bail them out.
At a time when many of the industrialised countries are going through the worst recession since the Great Depression, it is worth looking at new perspectives for financing development of small countries like Maldives. Layoffs and unemployment are devastating for small communities like us with limited opportunity for alternative employment.
Islamic finance, argued Datuk Seri Najib, could become a model for change because it prohibits many of the risky activities that triggered the current crisis. He may have a point.(link)
Maldivian government has been in talks with the biggest Islamic Bank in Bahrain to set up an islamic bank in Maldives.
What happened to this project?
If this project goes through, Maldivians can obtain finance to build their homes without the fear of being thrown out of their homes when the unpaid compounded interest runs higher than the principal loan taken. We need the Nasheed government and sharia scholars specialized in islamic banking to make islamic banking a reality in Maldives.
Capitalism is taking a battering in the West because of the greed of top level executives who have caused some of the biggest banks in America and Britain to go into insolvency, forcing the governments to step in and bail them out.
At a time when many of the industrialised countries are going through the worst recession since the Great Depression, it is worth looking at new perspectives for financing development of small countries like Maldives. Layoffs and unemployment are devastating for small communities like us with limited opportunity for alternative employment.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Changing Lifestyle
Maldives vice president Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku has said the new working hours, 8am to 4pm introduced recently will bring a lifestyle change.
This is not the first time our government has changed the working hours. President Ibrahim Nasir changed it, president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom changed it and now president Mohamed Nasheed has changed the working hours. When Nasir left the presidency, we had a disciplined workforce who made it possible to fly the Maldivian flag on Maldivian ships that plied all around the world. When Gayoom was ousted from power after 30 years in office in the first multi-party elections, we have become a highly self-centred society with a third of our youth addicted to illegal drugs. Now it is Nasheed's turn to change our lifestyle and let history judge his stewardship.
The VP has urged bosses of government offices to keep a fridge and micro oven inside the office. Assume this is to prepare a hot snack or meal. Male' is less than 1 square mile and no one has any difficulty reaching home at any point in Male'. We need to bring more change than this to change our lifestyle. Though we have 40 per cent of our population living below the 1 US dollar poverty line, our country is rich. Palatial buildings and luxury yachts are available for our politicians. Changing the mindset of politicians is the first step of the change that is required.
President Nasheed who has suffered numerous imprisonment and torture himself for speaking and writing against the government has to now show how a government serves the people in the interest of the public. The Gayoom government never understood this concept. To them political power was the opportunity to spend the state's resources to live a lavish lifestyle and increase the personal wealth for themselves. As a result they neglected the poor and corruption has become a hallmark of our society.
Therefore, a change of lifestyle is definitely needed. The president and ministers must be held accountable for the power entrusted to them. We also need to find a way to rein in our members of the parliament. Nowadays parliamentary proceedings are turning out to be quite a spectacle for public amusement. When MPs are paid MRF 63,000 a month, it is not enough for members to yell at each other to settle old scores. It is not enough for Mohamed Shihab to abuse his position as the speaker. These highly paid MPs should devote their time to legislate and improve the lives of the people. Parliamentary privilege doesn't mean they should be allowed to abuse their authority.
President Nasheed and Vice President Waheed. Now it is your turn to change our lifestyle and set the mark of your presidency.
This is not the first time our government has changed the working hours. President Ibrahim Nasir changed it, president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom changed it and now president Mohamed Nasheed has changed the working hours. When Nasir left the presidency, we had a disciplined workforce who made it possible to fly the Maldivian flag on Maldivian ships that plied all around the world. When Gayoom was ousted from power after 30 years in office in the first multi-party elections, we have become a highly self-centred society with a third of our youth addicted to illegal drugs. Now it is Nasheed's turn to change our lifestyle and let history judge his stewardship.
The VP has urged bosses of government offices to keep a fridge and micro oven inside the office. Assume this is to prepare a hot snack or meal. Male' is less than 1 square mile and no one has any difficulty reaching home at any point in Male'. We need to bring more change than this to change our lifestyle. Though we have 40 per cent of our population living below the 1 US dollar poverty line, our country is rich. Palatial buildings and luxury yachts are available for our politicians. Changing the mindset of politicians is the first step of the change that is required.
President Nasheed who has suffered numerous imprisonment and torture himself for speaking and writing against the government has to now show how a government serves the people in the interest of the public. The Gayoom government never understood this concept. To them political power was the opportunity to spend the state's resources to live a lavish lifestyle and increase the personal wealth for themselves. As a result they neglected the poor and corruption has become a hallmark of our society.
Therefore, a change of lifestyle is definitely needed. The president and ministers must be held accountable for the power entrusted to them. We also need to find a way to rein in our members of the parliament. Nowadays parliamentary proceedings are turning out to be quite a spectacle for public amusement. When MPs are paid MRF 63,000 a month, it is not enough for members to yell at each other to settle old scores. It is not enough for Mohamed Shihab to abuse his position as the speaker. These highly paid MPs should devote their time to legislate and improve the lives of the people. Parliamentary privilege doesn't mean they should be allowed to abuse their authority.
President Nasheed and Vice President Waheed. Now it is your turn to change our lifestyle and set the mark of your presidency.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
What Went Wrong?
Here is what president Mohamed Nasheed said to a journalist from the UK. (link)
"Every evil you think a society could have has found a home here in the Maldives,” Nasheed says. “We have inherited beautiful buildings from the previous regime, but almost empty coffers. There is an acute shortage of housing, sanitation, water, health, education, transport and basic infrastructures for a decent life.”
In addition, 30% of the country’s youth (and 75% of the population is below 35 years old) are now heroin addicts.
What has gone so horribly wrong to bring our country to this situation?
After 30 years of high GDP growth that has made the rich very happy, how did 40 per cent of our population manage to stay below the poverty line of less than 1 USD a day? How did this laid back society living in relative peace find explosive growth of illegal drugs?
Is this the same country that former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid is talking about, praising its development and human rights at every opportunity?
If it is a bad government that has brought our population to such a national nightmare that should never be repeated, president Nasheed owes it to our nation to explain to us who is responsible for such behaviour and how it can be avoided for our future generations.
"Every evil you think a society could have has found a home here in the Maldives,” Nasheed says. “We have inherited beautiful buildings from the previous regime, but almost empty coffers. There is an acute shortage of housing, sanitation, water, health, education, transport and basic infrastructures for a decent life.”
In addition, 30% of the country’s youth (and 75% of the population is below 35 years old) are now heroin addicts.
What has gone so horribly wrong to bring our country to this situation?
After 30 years of high GDP growth that has made the rich very happy, how did 40 per cent of our population manage to stay below the poverty line of less than 1 USD a day? How did this laid back society living in relative peace find explosive growth of illegal drugs?
Is this the same country that former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid is talking about, praising its development and human rights at every opportunity?
If it is a bad government that has brought our population to such a national nightmare that should never be repeated, president Nasheed owes it to our nation to explain to us who is responsible for such behaviour and how it can be avoided for our future generations.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Keep the Focus on the Real Issues
The Maldivian politicians have always used a scare tactic making the citizens believe that the infidels will come and convert them to kafirs. DRP used this tactic when they were in government. In opposition they now say that they are the only people who can preserve Islam. DRP says that the country is on the wrong track and they need 60 seats in the new parliament to save the country. What is wrong with the track that we are on now? We have heard this type of rhetoric before. These narcissists could not find it in Islam to run a just government for our small nation 300,000 Muslims. It was the threat from the European Union and the western concept of a Human Rights Commission that gave our rights to us.
How then can DRP provide justice, better health and education, maintain equitable distribution of wealth and stop the illegal drugs if they are following the same old failed policies that got them thrown out of power after thirty years?
As the biggest opposition party, DRP has to cut out the political nonsense to deceive the people. Where they have made mistakes, they must accept responsibility for the specific issues publicly. Where they disagree with the MDP coalition, they should offer alternative policies so that the public can make informed decisions when choosing MPs.
Debate about the real issues. Stop the fear mongering about religion. The rich have become richer while the poor remained poor. Political parties should offer their policies on how to reduce poverty, stop illegal drugs and treat addicts, provide better opportunities and create diverse employment without only depending on tourism. Just talking about them doesn't solve the problem. Concrete action has to be taken. Our people are cynical because politicians are self-centred and have failed the people time and time again.
Even the parliament, the peoples representatives have failed to look after the peoples' interest. Mohamed Shihab, the current speaker thinks that he can operate above the law.
What is important is for the government and the opposition parties to address the country's problems. Opposition parties should criticise the government's policies on its method of decentralisation to its policy on employment. Anybody who is anybody of MDP is getting employed these days. While some criticisms may be unfounded, the government must still welcome the ability of the people to offer such criticisms. That is the spirit of the freedom of the press guaranteed in the constitution. Journalists need to ask probing questions on the politics and policy of the government. The public has to be informed and educated about how the public officials function. This task may not be easy since we are on a learning curve and the decentralisation process is picking up pace across atolls and islands. If the Nasheed government is committed to transparency, then we are on the right track.
How then can DRP provide justice, better health and education, maintain equitable distribution of wealth and stop the illegal drugs if they are following the same old failed policies that got them thrown out of power after thirty years?
As the biggest opposition party, DRP has to cut out the political nonsense to deceive the people. Where they have made mistakes, they must accept responsibility for the specific issues publicly. Where they disagree with the MDP coalition, they should offer alternative policies so that the public can make informed decisions when choosing MPs.
Debate about the real issues. Stop the fear mongering about religion. The rich have become richer while the poor remained poor. Political parties should offer their policies on how to reduce poverty, stop illegal drugs and treat addicts, provide better opportunities and create diverse employment without only depending on tourism. Just talking about them doesn't solve the problem. Concrete action has to be taken. Our people are cynical because politicians are self-centred and have failed the people time and time again.
Even the parliament, the peoples representatives have failed to look after the peoples' interest. Mohamed Shihab, the current speaker thinks that he can operate above the law.
What is important is for the government and the opposition parties to address the country's problems. Opposition parties should criticise the government's policies on its method of decentralisation to its policy on employment. Anybody who is anybody of MDP is getting employed these days. While some criticisms may be unfounded, the government must still welcome the ability of the people to offer such criticisms. That is the spirit of the freedom of the press guaranteed in the constitution. Journalists need to ask probing questions on the politics and policy of the government. The public has to be informed and educated about how the public officials function. This task may not be easy since we are on a learning curve and the decentralisation process is picking up pace across atolls and islands. If the Nasheed government is committed to transparency, then we are on the right track.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Responsibilty and Accountability
America's first African-American president Barack Obama has used these words as a running theme during his long campaign to reach the white house. Maldives is following the American model of the presidential system. In the American system the president appoints the best persons for the various jobs. In the decentralising process, the Maldivian president is appointing councillors to islands and atolls based on affiliation to his party. As a result MDP loyalists and activists are given these jobs rather than choosing the best people for public service. President Nasheed's advisor Hassan Saeed who runs his own political party has voiced his concern on this problem.
We have taken the first step in the democratic process- choosing our leader from multiple contestants. We now need to come together to help the president succeed to make our lives better. After vigorous debate on policy and politics, the nation needs to come together to develop the potential of every individual citizen. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Our politicians should set aside petty differences and work to empower the poor and disadvantaged with skills and resources that will help to reduce the gap between the rich and poor.
President Naseed has a responsibility to do what is right for the nation rather than to only appease his base within the MDP. Appeasing the base has been the norm of governance during the last thirty years. Our government who were in cahoot with the rich neglected the poor and helped the rich to become richer. The Nasheed government must change this immediately.
Economists and politicians are warning us that we are now in the midst of a global recession like the one that began in 1929. The world is in crisis. Our tourism will get affected. Our politicians need to take timely action to avoid any nasty shock to our economy.
Politicians who seek public service and who get elected or appointed must be held to a high standard of responsibility. When politicians fail in their responsibility, they must be held to account. We have already heard that some democratic leaders want to prosecute president George W Bush and vice president Dick Cheney for taking the country to war in Iraq by providing false information to the Senate about the weapons of mass destruction. We need to hold our public officials accountable for the responsibility we entrust to them. Our parliament must remain the watchdog to make laws that will protect the interest of the people. That is more important than the recess they want to take. Going by how Mohamed Shihab is acting as the parliament's speaker now and as head of finance committee previously, it is clear that he is working only in the interest of the rich and powerful. It is such a shame the Judicial branch, the Supreme Court has to force the legislative branch, the parliament to do its job- a job for which every member draws Mrf 60,000 monthly- a hefty sum by Maldivian standards.
We have taken the first step in the democratic process- choosing our leader from multiple contestants. We now need to come together to help the president succeed to make our lives better. After vigorous debate on policy and politics, the nation needs to come together to develop the potential of every individual citizen. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Our politicians should set aside petty differences and work to empower the poor and disadvantaged with skills and resources that will help to reduce the gap between the rich and poor.
President Naseed has a responsibility to do what is right for the nation rather than to only appease his base within the MDP. Appeasing the base has been the norm of governance during the last thirty years. Our government who were in cahoot with the rich neglected the poor and helped the rich to become richer. The Nasheed government must change this immediately.
Economists and politicians are warning us that we are now in the midst of a global recession like the one that began in 1929. The world is in crisis. Our tourism will get affected. Our politicians need to take timely action to avoid any nasty shock to our economy.
Politicians who seek public service and who get elected or appointed must be held to a high standard of responsibility. When politicians fail in their responsibility, they must be held to account. We have already heard that some democratic leaders want to prosecute president George W Bush and vice president Dick Cheney for taking the country to war in Iraq by providing false information to the Senate about the weapons of mass destruction. We need to hold our public officials accountable for the responsibility we entrust to them. Our parliament must remain the watchdog to make laws that will protect the interest of the people. That is more important than the recess they want to take. Going by how Mohamed Shihab is acting as the parliament's speaker now and as head of finance committee previously, it is clear that he is working only in the interest of the rich and powerful. It is such a shame the Judicial branch, the Supreme Court has to force the legislative branch, the parliament to do its job- a job for which every member draws Mrf 60,000 monthly- a hefty sum by Maldivian standards.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Job Centres with Moral Obligations
According to a Minister of the Nasheed government, opening up job centres in Maldives will help young people to find jobs. The minister alluded to the fact that providing useful information to job seekers is a moral obligation of the state. It is heartening to know that one ministry is thinking about its moral obligation.
It is the duty of the government to look after its citizens. So it is more than a moral obligation not only to match jobs but to create them as well. For 30 years our government believed that their job was only to preach. They were not interested in creating jobs or maintaining them. During this same period our per capita GDP grew from US$ 300 to 3000. It is a remarkable achievement- a testament to the industrious nature of the private sector. Amazingly, during this same period the rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Thanks to our government who spent the money that could have been used on development of public services to the likes of the US 7 million yacht, seeking world class luxury normally seen in the oil-rich sheikdoms.
According to a recently released Human Rights Commission report around 12,000 families in Male’ do not have their own housing and are forced to share accommodation with other families or make do with temporary living arrangements. Housing has become so scarce that a quarter of all families in Male’ share just one room and almost 70 per cent live in accommodation that fails to meet ‘adequate housing’ criteria on the basis of overcrowding. These conditions are so appalling that these apartments are considered as slums going by the UN definition.
Presently there is an ongoing row between the Home Ministry and Civil Service Commission(CSC). The CSC claims that it had been asked to dismiss over a thousand civil servants from its employment by the home ministry; an allegation, which the ministry has denied. CSC says that they have also been asked to be make redundant a total of 381 civil servants over the age of 55. Under the Civil Service Act, the commission has the authority to retire civil servants over this age. The Home Ministry refutes this statement saying the CSC asked for such a list. The public does not know who to believe. It appears this government thinks people are a disposable asset because they do not have the strength of the unions to back them. Regardless of the type of restructuring that is taking place in the decentralisation process, those who have loyally served must be given priority to remain employed or be given the necessary training and help to look for other work. In this effort, no politician of the Nasheed government should feel it is only their moral obligation to serve public good. It is their duty and job for which they are paid to work in the interest of the public.
It is the duty of the government to look after its citizens. So it is more than a moral obligation not only to match jobs but to create them as well. For 30 years our government believed that their job was only to preach. They were not interested in creating jobs or maintaining them. During this same period our per capita GDP grew from US$ 300 to 3000. It is a remarkable achievement- a testament to the industrious nature of the private sector. Amazingly, during this same period the rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Thanks to our government who spent the money that could have been used on development of public services to the likes of the US 7 million yacht, seeking world class luxury normally seen in the oil-rich sheikdoms.
According to a recently released Human Rights Commission report around 12,000 families in Male’ do not have their own housing and are forced to share accommodation with other families or make do with temporary living arrangements. Housing has become so scarce that a quarter of all families in Male’ share just one room and almost 70 per cent live in accommodation that fails to meet ‘adequate housing’ criteria on the basis of overcrowding. These conditions are so appalling that these apartments are considered as slums going by the UN definition.
Presently there is an ongoing row between the Home Ministry and Civil Service Commission(CSC). The CSC claims that it had been asked to dismiss over a thousand civil servants from its employment by the home ministry; an allegation, which the ministry has denied. CSC says that they have also been asked to be make redundant a total of 381 civil servants over the age of 55. Under the Civil Service Act, the commission has the authority to retire civil servants over this age. The Home Ministry refutes this statement saying the CSC asked for such a list. The public does not know who to believe. It appears this government thinks people are a disposable asset because they do not have the strength of the unions to back them. Regardless of the type of restructuring that is taking place in the decentralisation process, those who have loyally served must be given priority to remain employed or be given the necessary training and help to look for other work. In this effort, no politician of the Nasheed government should feel it is only their moral obligation to serve public good. It is their duty and job for which they are paid to work in the interest of the public.
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