Commenting on the dismissal of 28 DRP parliamentarians from the civil service as per the civil service act, Aneesa Ahmed, head of the DRP parliamentary group, said the CSC did not have “the best interests of the public in mind” when announcing its intention to enforce the Act, as it had had a six month “leeway to settle the civil service staff.”
Civil Service Commission (CSC) is enforcing the act of parliament passed in 2007. DRP and the MDP, the opposition party in the parliament knew what the act was and so is it right to blame the CSC for not keeping the best interest of the public in mind? Maldives is a country where no politician keeps the public interest in mind. They only know how to look after their own interest.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Compulsory retirement shows conflicting values
The Civil Service Act came into effect on May 1, with 27,089 civil servants transferred from the President's Office to the new, independent Civil Service Commission (CSC).
While much of the world celebrated the May Day or the International Workers Day, the Maldives with a 100 percent Muslim population compelled 1,714 civil servants aged 65 and above to take mandatory retirement. Maldives does not have a labour movement nor labour unions to protect workers rights and so the compensation for the retirees was determined by the Civil Service Commission with no representation by the affected people.
According to the CSC calculations, the 1,714 retirees will be awarded a lump sum and a monthly allowance, based on their salary and length of service.
262 of the retirees will receive Rf 500 (US $39) monthly, 169 retirees will be paid their full salary for 40 or more years of service, and 1,282 retirees will be receive a sum between Rf 500 and their full salary till death.
The sun has now set for the public servants aged 65 and above, many of whom had believed that they had a lifelong job in serving the Maldivian government who preached the virtues of an Islamic society. Now the Maldivian government has deftly manipulated the public trust and kicked out the pillars of the public service without giving them any opportunity or training for alternative employment.
While much of the world celebrated the May Day or the International Workers Day, the Maldives with a 100 percent Muslim population compelled 1,714 civil servants aged 65 and above to take mandatory retirement. Maldives does not have a labour movement nor labour unions to protect workers rights and so the compensation for the retirees was determined by the Civil Service Commission with no representation by the affected people.
According to the CSC calculations, the 1,714 retirees will be awarded a lump sum and a monthly allowance, based on their salary and length of service.
262 of the retirees will receive Rf 500 (US $39) monthly, 169 retirees will be paid their full salary for 40 or more years of service, and 1,282 retirees will be receive a sum between Rf 500 and their full salary till death.
The sun has now set for the public servants aged 65 and above, many of whom had believed that they had a lifelong job in serving the Maldivian government who preached the virtues of an Islamic society. Now the Maldivian government has deftly manipulated the public trust and kicked out the pillars of the public service without giving them any opportunity or training for alternative employment.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Maldives faces an onion crisis
According to Miadhu, "Maldivian traders says that the price of onions may go up in the market as a result of the heavy rains occurring over India which has rendered flooding of the onion fields in certain areas. Maldives imports large amounts of onion from India.
Trade Ministry informed that due to heavy rains experiencing over parts of India rendering flooding of onion fields the prices of onions is expected to go up. Ministry further said price of onion even in India has gone risen in the past few days."
In June/July 1989 India faced shortages of onions and price of onions went through the roof. Indian food security experts who analysed the situation revealed that increase in onion price was caused by market manipulation rather than real shortages.
``The unexplained spiral in prices of vegetables in June/July and the prevailing skyrocketing onion prices are the result of deft manipulation by market forces,'' said Devinder Sharma, food expert and president of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security.
In order to overcome the Indian onion crisis, Indian government allowed the import of onions from Dubai and other countries.
Maldives too will need to look for alternative supply sources such as from Dubai and other onion exporting countries in order to maintain stable supply at reasonable prices, when Indian suppliers are faced with shortages due to heavy rains.
Trade Ministry informed that due to heavy rains experiencing over parts of India rendering flooding of onion fields the prices of onions is expected to go up. Ministry further said price of onion even in India has gone risen in the past few days."
In June/July 1989 India faced shortages of onions and price of onions went through the roof. Indian food security experts who analysed the situation revealed that increase in onion price was caused by market manipulation rather than real shortages.
``The unexplained spiral in prices of vegetables in June/July and the prevailing skyrocketing onion prices are the result of deft manipulation by market forces,'' said Devinder Sharma, food expert and president of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security.
In order to overcome the Indian onion crisis, Indian government allowed the import of onions from Dubai and other countries.
Maldives too will need to look for alternative supply sources such as from Dubai and other onion exporting countries in order to maintain stable supply at reasonable prices, when Indian suppliers are faced with shortages due to heavy rains.
Monday, April 28, 2008
What is democracy?
The Maldivian government and the newly emerged political parties are promising to bring democracy to Maldives.
There are many countries in the world that abuse the concept of democracy and if Maldivians are to benefit from democracy, the voting public should know their rights and be able to demand them from scheming politicians. Maldives has seen its share of corrupt politicians who misused their power and denied the public their rights.
In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. For this reason, it is possible to identify the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, human rights, and equality before the law that any society must possess to be properly called democratic.
There are many countries in the world that abuse the concept of democracy and if Maldivians are to benefit from democracy, the voting public should know their rights and be able to demand them from scheming politicians. Maldives has seen its share of corrupt politicians who misused their power and denied the public their rights.
In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. For this reason, it is possible to identify the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, human rights, and equality before the law that any society must possess to be properly called democratic.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Social development lagging behind technology
The development of tourism in Maldives which accounts for 30 percent of the GDP has increased the per capita GDP to $3,000. This is an impressive achievement, the highest in the region.
The Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004 hit the Maldives very badly and killed 82 and caused substantial damage to tourism, housing, and fishing infrastructure in the islands. It proved once again the gross unequal development between the residents in Male' and those living in the outer islands.
The World Bank has approved a $7.7 million to improve the mobile banking service in Maldives. According to Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), this mobile phone banking service will bring a revolution to the financial sector. Work is underway to introduce the service early next year.
While we should applaud the growth and development in the financial sector, it is important to press on and improve the social sector. It is vital to eradicate poverty, provide a national health care to all and create opportunities that can empower the people in the islands.
The present method of development is creating an an elitist class of people in Male' while neglecting the social development of the citizens living in the other islands. This trend has to be reversed to avoid social tension.
The Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004 hit the Maldives very badly and killed 82 and caused substantial damage to tourism, housing, and fishing infrastructure in the islands. It proved once again the gross unequal development between the residents in Male' and those living in the outer islands.
The World Bank has approved a $7.7 million to improve the mobile banking service in Maldives. According to Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), this mobile phone banking service will bring a revolution to the financial sector. Work is underway to introduce the service early next year.
While we should applaud the growth and development in the financial sector, it is important to press on and improve the social sector. It is vital to eradicate poverty, provide a national health care to all and create opportunities that can empower the people in the islands.
The present method of development is creating an an elitist class of people in Male' while neglecting the social development of the citizens living in the other islands. This trend has to be reversed to avoid social tension.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Insulting the Pope
American comedian Bill Maher insulted Pope Benedict XVI before his official visit to the United States, calling Catholicism a "cult" that promotes "organized pedophilia." The comments were made on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, Apr. 11. Maher went into a long monologue on his program comparing the Catholic church to a polygamous cult -- the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- which was raided on Apr. 3 and whose founder, Warren Jeffs, was convicted last year for being an accessory to the rape of a teenage girl.
Many American catholics are enraged at Bill Maher's comments and religious organisations have urged HBO to deal with Maher. Apparently under some pressure, Bill Maher has agreed to apologise for the hurtful comments directed at the pope which are also factually wrong.
Bill Maher used freedom of expression to hurt the feelings of catholics who have applied commercial pressure on HBO. Since Bill Maher's HBO program ratings may drop due to boycott by catholics, Maher has quickly agreed to apologise to avoid any further damage.
Many American catholics are enraged at Bill Maher's comments and religious organisations have urged HBO to deal with Maher. Apparently under some pressure, Bill Maher has agreed to apologise for the hurtful comments directed at the pope which are also factually wrong.
Bill Maher used freedom of expression to hurt the feelings of catholics who have applied commercial pressure on HBO. Since Bill Maher's HBO program ratings may drop due to boycott by catholics, Maher has quickly agreed to apologise to avoid any further damage.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Grow more food
This article on Haveeru writes about the need to grow more food items that can be grown in Maldives.
In our quest for development, Maldives has forgotten about the development of agriculture and only depended on the dollars brought in by the tourist industry. The world is now facing a food crisis and some of the economists in Maldives are telling us to grow more sustainable food. Unfortunately these voices of reason are drowned out by the organised political chaos that is currently prevailing in the name of introducing democratic reform.
Increasing food prices in the world— some of which have more than doubled in two years — have sparked riots in numerous countries recently. Governments are scrambling to contain a fast looming crisis before it spins out of control.
The soaring price of rice has triggered a supply and demand crunch that is hurting some of Asia's neediest nations, forcing governments from India to Philippines to Indonesia to monitor the distribution and avoid social disturbances.
For rice exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam, the world's two biggest exporters of the grain, the rising demand is a money-spinner with rice now selling at more than US$500 a tonne in Bangkok and nearly as much in Hanoi.
(link Tapei Times)
In our quest for development, Maldives has forgotten about the development of agriculture and only depended on the dollars brought in by the tourist industry. The world is now facing a food crisis and some of the economists in Maldives are telling us to grow more sustainable food. Unfortunately these voices of reason are drowned out by the organised political chaos that is currently prevailing in the name of introducing democratic reform.
Increasing food prices in the world— some of which have more than doubled in two years — have sparked riots in numerous countries recently. Governments are scrambling to contain a fast looming crisis before it spins out of control.
The soaring price of rice has triggered a supply and demand crunch that is hurting some of Asia's neediest nations, forcing governments from India to Philippines to Indonesia to monitor the distribution and avoid social disturbances.
For rice exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam, the world's two biggest exporters of the grain, the rising demand is a money-spinner with rice now selling at more than US$500 a tonne in Bangkok and nearly as much in Hanoi.
(link Tapei Times)
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Singapore to open up its first farm resort
Since Maldives has many uninhabited islands, here's some news that could give us some idea of what we could do in Maldives- beyond just catering to the sunseeking foreign tourists.
Singapore government's Land Transport Authority is offering an agri-tainment farm resort where visitors could have a more unconventional experience when it opens its doors in August 2008.
Visitors will be able to find out how crops like corn and coffee are grown and may even get the chance to harvest their own vegetables.
In addition, the five-hectare site, which is equal to the size of six football fields, will have 21 villas and a nearby spa. And the villas will be going for up to S$200 a night.
(Link Channel NewsAsia)
Singapore government's Land Transport Authority is offering an agri-tainment farm resort where visitors could have a more unconventional experience when it opens its doors in August 2008.
Visitors will be able to find out how crops like corn and coffee are grown and may even get the chance to harvest their own vegetables.
In addition, the five-hectare site, which is equal to the size of six football fields, will have 21 villas and a nearby spa. And the villas will be going for up to S$200 a night.
(Link Channel NewsAsia)
Sunday, April 06, 2008
A heart warming gesture
Some parents and the faculty of Kalaafaanu School got together and donated Rf200,000 and four Bangkok return tickets to a student of the school who is suffering from cancer. The student is suffering from bone cancer to his left leg and doctors had said that it was spreading fast, affecting his lungs even and could become life-threatening if the leg was not amputated. (link)
This is a very noble effort by parents and Kalaafaanu school to help a cancer stricken 10-year-old student.
A grateful father said that he had been forced to beg for aid from the Government, wealthy local businessmen, and parents of the Kalaafaanu School children and that the donation from the School was by far the most generous amount he had received.
To avoid such desperate plight, Maldivians should call on all political parties and demand that the Government introduce a national health care programme to provide medical treatment for all citizens; the cost of which can be paid by a publicly funded tax. No Maldivian parent should have to beg anyone to treat his/her child.
This is a very noble effort by parents and Kalaafaanu school to help a cancer stricken 10-year-old student.
A grateful father said that he had been forced to beg for aid from the Government, wealthy local businessmen, and parents of the Kalaafaanu School children and that the donation from the School was by far the most generous amount he had received.
To avoid such desperate plight, Maldivians should call on all political parties and demand that the Government introduce a national health care programme to provide medical treatment for all citizens; the cost of which can be paid by a publicly funded tax. No Maldivian parent should have to beg anyone to treat his/her child.
Friday, April 04, 2008
What went wrong with the maths genius?
The Sufiah Yusof story has made sensational headlines–around the world- a good Muslim girl gone wrong, prodigy turned hooker,
She was the Malaysian child maths genius who won a place at Oxford University aged just 13—but now news coming out from her adopted nation Britain has shocked those who loved and adored her.
How did this gifted girl with the winning smile who had the world at her feet ten years ago and who should be a rich woman by now end up prostituting her body for a living?
Sufiah's father Farooq is a Pakistani and mother Halimathon, a Malaysian.
Sufiah’s current choice of career was revealed by an undercover reporter whom she entertained in her flat.
According to a British tabloid, she apparently advertised her services on a hookers’ website calling herself Shilpa Lee available for booking every day from 11am to 8pm.
Sufiah gained notoriety for the first time when she rebelled against her strict parents and ran away from Oxford at 15. She wrote an email to sister complaining - “I’ve finally had enough of 15 years of physical and emotional abuse. You know what I am talking about.”
Sufiyah's controversial father Farooq, 50, is now in jail serving 18 months for sexually assaulting two 15 year-old girls he was private tutoring in maths. Prior to this, in 1992, Farooq was jailed three years in relations to a £1.5m mortgage swindle. At 19, Farooq was already a juvenile delinquent - he was sent to borstal (a youth prison in the UK) pertaining to a conspiracy involving £100,000.
From The Star Online.
Sufiah Yusof’s ex-husband Jonathan Marshall has expressed sadness and complete shock over the one-time child prodigy selling herself for £130 per hour.
Britain's Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying: “I am completely shocked. It’s very sad, actually. It’s very shocking that someone can use himself or herself in such a way.”
“I can’t fathom why she would do it – especially someone in her situation. Despite the problems with her family she had many advantages, which other people don’t have,” he said
The two fell in love and married in 2004. Marshall, a law student, had already converted to Islam. He was 24 and she was 19. The marriage lasted less than two years.
“The reason we split was that I became more observant and Sufiah became less so,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Marshall as saying.
“That took her in the wrong direction, away from the direction in which I wanted to go. The teachings of Islam are fundamental to your everyday life, so when paths diverge in that respect it is a major issue.”
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Hospital workers go on strike
Photo: SAM BAKER/Manawatu StandardPAY UP: Hospital worker Bruce Claire was one of 25 Spotless workers waving placards and picketing outside Palmerston North Hospital
In New Zealand, up to 800 cleaners and food workers in public hospitals walked off the job for 24 hours this morning in protest at employer Spotless Services' failure to honour a pay deal agreed with them last year.
The increase would bring their minimum pay rate to $14.25 an hour.
Service and Food Workers Union site representative Ken Archer said the pay increase hold up was unfair.
"The Government has given them [Spotless) the [extra] money for the lower paid workers, and they still haven't paid us. So we have to strike to get what we are owed. . .it's really disappointing it will cost us a day's pay to get what is ours, but what can you expect from an Australian- owned company?"
Read more here.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Health care for citizens before medical tourism
The Minister of Tourism Dr. Mahmoud Shaugy wants to introduce medical tourism in Maldives for foreign tourists.
Before our government ventures out to provide medical tourism to foreign tourists, they should introduce health care to all citizens. We should consider health care models like the health care in Canada that is funded and delivered through a publicly funded health care system or a Universal health care program in which health care costs are met by the population via compulsory health insurance or taxation, or a combination of both.
An interesting article on Healthcare Economist gives an analysis of Singapore's Health Care System. Read it here.
Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus one of the pioneers of the microcredit industry and the founder of the Grameen Bank, gave his comments on health care at the World Health Care Congress Europe 2007.
When Dr. Yunus was questioned as to whether or not poor individuals in Bangladesh should have to pay for health care, he replied: “I think it’s very important to have the patients, the people who are asking for health services, to pay. How that payment will be made…it can be in a variety of ways. But the important thing is they must pay. They must feel that this is a service they are buying so that they feel equal, so they don’t feel small.”
Dr. Yunus later states that payment for medical services can be made in a variety of ways. Of course, there are cash payments, but individuals also can pay by taking out a loan or making incremental payments, or purchasing health insurance in anticipation of the possibility of sickness or individuals could even pay in kind if they have little cash.
The Maldivian Government must learn from economists like Dr. Mohammad Yunus and introduce a health care program for all citizens.
Before our government ventures out to provide medical tourism to foreign tourists, they should introduce health care to all citizens. We should consider health care models like the health care in Canada that is funded and delivered through a publicly funded health care system or a Universal health care program in which health care costs are met by the population via compulsory health insurance or taxation, or a combination of both.
An interesting article on Healthcare Economist gives an analysis of Singapore's Health Care System. Read it here.
Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus one of the pioneers of the microcredit industry and the founder of the Grameen Bank, gave his comments on health care at the World Health Care Congress Europe 2007.
When Dr. Yunus was questioned as to whether or not poor individuals in Bangladesh should have to pay for health care, he replied: “I think it’s very important to have the patients, the people who are asking for health services, to pay. How that payment will be made…it can be in a variety of ways. But the important thing is they must pay. They must feel that this is a service they are buying so that they feel equal, so they don’t feel small.”
Dr. Yunus later states that payment for medical services can be made in a variety of ways. Of course, there are cash payments, but individuals also can pay by taking out a loan or making incremental payments, or purchasing health insurance in anticipation of the possibility of sickness or individuals could even pay in kind if they have little cash.
The Maldivian Government must learn from economists like Dr. Mohammad Yunus and introduce a health care program for all citizens.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Everyone is entitled to a good standard of living
Maldives has come a long way from being a number of sleepy islands depending of subsistence fishing for their livelihood. Thanks to foreign tourism, Maldives is today ranked the highest in per capita income in the region.
But the higher standard of living enjoyed by the elites in Male' is drawing sharp contrast to the majority of the population who struggle at the bottom of the economic ladder.
This year, we are facing the first multi-party contest for the nation's presidency and there is no shortage of criticism on the Government and its failed policies that has led to such lop sided development for the people in the islands while the elites in the capital Male' flourish with increasing opportunities.
A glaring example of wasteful expenditure is the over 100 million Rufiyaa allegedly spent on STELCO building in Male'. Is it really necessary to provide one of the most expensive public buildings in Male' to house the staff of the government utility company whose job is to provide electricity to the public at the lowest rates? These incidents should be raised in public debates with presidential contenders to seek their views on how they would spend government revenue raised through tourism taxes ,various duties, etc. Will they concentrate only on developing Male' or do they have the political will to impose income tax and corporate tax and reduce the growing income gap between the rich and poor?
Election campaigns are the only time that presidential contenders will have to to run after the public promising everything in order to get their votes.
While there are no quick fixes that can solve our problems, providing meaningful and easily accessible information to the public can help to create solutions to improve the quality of public service. Hence we must urge the presidential contenders and policymakers for greater transparency and timely information. A free press can play an important role to educate the public who can ultimately hold the government accountable.
"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. "- Erich Fromm
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." Thomas Jefferson
But the higher standard of living enjoyed by the elites in Male' is drawing sharp contrast to the majority of the population who struggle at the bottom of the economic ladder.
This year, we are facing the first multi-party contest for the nation's presidency and there is no shortage of criticism on the Government and its failed policies that has led to such lop sided development for the people in the islands while the elites in the capital Male' flourish with increasing opportunities.
A glaring example of wasteful expenditure is the over 100 million Rufiyaa allegedly spent on STELCO building in Male'. Is it really necessary to provide one of the most expensive public buildings in Male' to house the staff of the government utility company whose job is to provide electricity to the public at the lowest rates? These incidents should be raised in public debates with presidential contenders to seek their views on how they would spend government revenue raised through tourism taxes ,various duties, etc. Will they concentrate only on developing Male' or do they have the political will to impose income tax and corporate tax and reduce the growing income gap between the rich and poor?
Election campaigns are the only time that presidential contenders will have to to run after the public promising everything in order to get their votes.
While there are no quick fixes that can solve our problems, providing meaningful and easily accessible information to the public can help to create solutions to improve the quality of public service. Hence we must urge the presidential contenders and policymakers for greater transparency and timely information. A free press can play an important role to educate the public who can ultimately hold the government accountable.
"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. "- Erich Fromm
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Politicial parties should offer their policies
Maldives has world-class tourist resorts to cater to rich foreign tourists and drive the GDP higher leaving a huge gap between the elites and the majority who can barely meet ends. The presidential contenders vying for the top post are promising to unlock the people from an unjust system and bring the necessary changes to create a just and humane society.
The politicians have turned Maldives into a banana republic through their ineptitude and hypocrisy. Legislators and public officials are conveniently serving their own self interest without any conscience. The public loathe the top politicians many of whom have turned into scoundrels who have abandoned reason and have no regard to public interest.
Soon every one will realise that just by changing a constitution and electing a new presidential form of government, nothing changes. Our political parties are playing the same old politics. They quibble with words and are deceitful in their stated intentions. An understandably sceptical public believes that their only real goal is to stay in power or to grab power.
Every one knows what the nation's problems are. 1 in 3 is a drug addict, we don't have health care for our citizens, crime is rampant, there is gang violence in the streets of Male', the majority of the youth remain unemployed and the general public has turned sceptical because of failed promises of reform and change.
If the past has taught us anything, it is time that we realise that we must stand up and declare that our narcissistic politicians are not interested to seek answers to solve our social problems. We should demand what we want from those seeking public office.
In this election year we need to ask the presidential contenders some important questions.
1)A responsible government must protect the interest of every one and not just the elites in Male'. Candidates should declare their position on this and advise how they will protect the interest of the common man?
2)Affordable high quality education must be provided to all students.
3)The government must provide proper health care and equal opportunity to all.
4) There should justice for all, not just only for the rich and powerful as has been happening up to now.
During their campaigns, presidential contenders should offer their policies and discuss in detail how they wish to look after public interest, provide high standards of education, provide equal opportunities and justice for all. Campaigns should not be about empty promises to deceive the public or to buy their votes without any intention for real change.
The politicians have turned Maldives into a banana republic through their ineptitude and hypocrisy. Legislators and public officials are conveniently serving their own self interest without any conscience. The public loathe the top politicians many of whom have turned into scoundrels who have abandoned reason and have no regard to public interest.
Soon every one will realise that just by changing a constitution and electing a new presidential form of government, nothing changes. Our political parties are playing the same old politics. They quibble with words and are deceitful in their stated intentions. An understandably sceptical public believes that their only real goal is to stay in power or to grab power.
Every one knows what the nation's problems are. 1 in 3 is a drug addict, we don't have health care for our citizens, crime is rampant, there is gang violence in the streets of Male', the majority of the youth remain unemployed and the general public has turned sceptical because of failed promises of reform and change.
If the past has taught us anything, it is time that we realise that we must stand up and declare that our narcissistic politicians are not interested to seek answers to solve our social problems. We should demand what we want from those seeking public office.
In this election year we need to ask the presidential contenders some important questions.
1)A responsible government must protect the interest of every one and not just the elites in Male'. Candidates should declare their position on this and advise how they will protect the interest of the common man?
2)Affordable high quality education must be provided to all students.
3)The government must provide proper health care and equal opportunity to all.
4) There should justice for all, not just only for the rich and powerful as has been happening up to now.
During their campaigns, presidential contenders should offer their policies and discuss in detail how they wish to look after public interest, provide high standards of education, provide equal opportunities and justice for all. Campaigns should not be about empty promises to deceive the public or to buy their votes without any intention for real change.
Friday, March 21, 2008
The power of simplicity
A Google employee rides a bicycle by a sign at the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California. Google has improved its green credentials by offering all of its employees a free bike to ride to work. Photograph: Gareth Davies/Getty Images.
Google, the company that was co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were students at Stanford University valued at US$23 billion based on its initial public offering which took place on place on August 19, 2004 is turning to the power of simplicity to enhance its competetive advantage.
Marissa Mayer, a US computer scientist and Google manager understands the power of that simplicity and is on the forefront introducing features to make their products simple and easy to use.
Read more here.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A US recession will affect Maldives
Many economists at Harvard, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch believe that the United States is headed for an official recession, usually defined as two straight quarters of declining output.
In an election year, most Americans are worried about the economy, and inflation tops their list of concerns. The Federal Reserve bank, the US central bank is moving swiftly to contain a deepening credit crisis and is acting on its role as the lender of last resort to restore confidence for Wall Street investment houses that can begin securing short-term emergency loans.
The Fed acted just after JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to buy rival Bear Stearns Cos. for $236.2 million in a deal that represents a stunning collapse for one of the world's largest and most venerable investment houses. Just on Friday the Fed had raced to provide emergency financing to cash-strapped Bear Stearns through JPMorgan.
JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay a mere $2 a share to buy all of Bear — which a little over a year ago was trading for as high as $170 a share. This shows how swiftly and dramatically events can turn around in the stock market.
US is the world's largest economy and the expected negative impact on the US economy will have adverse effect on the global economy as well. The adverse impact on global economies will affect Maldives as well.
Maldives is also going through an election year and as the our economy is heavily dependent on tourism which accounts for 30 per cent of our GDP, and we need to follow the recessionary pressures that will impact global markets.
The rising sea levels has a lasting impact on our future, but the increasing oil prices has an immediate impact on us as our economy is vulnerable to rising oil prices much more than any other in the Asia Pacific region, according to a UN report.
Current crude oil prices which have crossed $110 a barrel are nearly 10 times the levels less than a decade ago. Presently Maldives is subsidising oil to fisherman, an unsustainable trend if our economy suffers a downturn due to global events. While oil-rich nations can enjoy historic gains and opportunities, major oil importers — including China and India, home to a third of the world’s population — are faced with rising economic and social costs. Maldives heavily dependent on oil imports needs to get back on fiscal discipline and run a balanced economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Maldives against money printing and dangers of a currency collapse when the country went for a record budget deficit in 2007. The Maldivian $940 million budget for 2008, equal to eighty percent of the Maldives’ expected GDP carries risks of a significant deficit based on “optimistic revenue assumptions, which may fail to materialise given any decline in global markets.
Our government needs to shift the focus from political bickering and get down to the business of managing the economy on realistic expectations in these turbulent times.
In an election year, most Americans are worried about the economy, and inflation tops their list of concerns. The Federal Reserve bank, the US central bank is moving swiftly to contain a deepening credit crisis and is acting on its role as the lender of last resort to restore confidence for Wall Street investment houses that can begin securing short-term emergency loans.
The Fed acted just after JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to buy rival Bear Stearns Cos. for $236.2 million in a deal that represents a stunning collapse for one of the world's largest and most venerable investment houses. Just on Friday the Fed had raced to provide emergency financing to cash-strapped Bear Stearns through JPMorgan.
JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay a mere $2 a share to buy all of Bear — which a little over a year ago was trading for as high as $170 a share. This shows how swiftly and dramatically events can turn around in the stock market.
US is the world's largest economy and the expected negative impact on the US economy will have adverse effect on the global economy as well. The adverse impact on global economies will affect Maldives as well.
Maldives is also going through an election year and as the our economy is heavily dependent on tourism which accounts for 30 per cent of our GDP, and we need to follow the recessionary pressures that will impact global markets.
The rising sea levels has a lasting impact on our future, but the increasing oil prices has an immediate impact on us as our economy is vulnerable to rising oil prices much more than any other in the Asia Pacific region, according to a UN report.
Current crude oil prices which have crossed $110 a barrel are nearly 10 times the levels less than a decade ago. Presently Maldives is subsidising oil to fisherman, an unsustainable trend if our economy suffers a downturn due to global events. While oil-rich nations can enjoy historic gains and opportunities, major oil importers — including China and India, home to a third of the world’s population — are faced with rising economic and social costs. Maldives heavily dependent on oil imports needs to get back on fiscal discipline and run a balanced economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Maldives against money printing and dangers of a currency collapse when the country went for a record budget deficit in 2007. The Maldivian $940 million budget for 2008, equal to eighty percent of the Maldives’ expected GDP carries risks of a significant deficit based on “optimistic revenue assumptions, which may fail to materialise given any decline in global markets.
Our government needs to shift the focus from political bickering and get down to the business of managing the economy on realistic expectations in these turbulent times.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Arrange safety awareness to protect Maldivians as well
A training program to provide safety awareness for tour guides is going on in Maldives conducted jointly by the Police Academy and Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviations. The one week awareness program has 26 participants with Police personnel and experts from other Government offices giving expert advice.
This is a good effort needed to provide information to tour guides about protecting the rights of tourists visiting Maldives. Since 30 per cent of our GDP comes from the tourists who visit our sunny side, we must do all we can to keep them happy so that they will spread the word of our excellent service and make return trips too.
The same enthusiasm needs to be provided to protect the rights of Maldivians in different fields. More public safety safety programs should be conducted to protect Maldivians so that that we don't have incidents such as the five young men who died in a Municipality fish market well due to inhaling toxic gas . The presence of such deadly gas was alerted by the Food and Drug Authority to Municipality who repudiate that claim. In another incident last week, in a crime of passion a former boyfriend killed a 17-year old girl in what appears to be a love feud. The 24-year old boy who knifed the girl to death is reported to have tried to commit suicide earlier without success. The young man in question clearly has some mental problem and it is worrying that in a small island of 600 people, those who are responsible to look after the community are unable to provide the kind of care needed.
It is also worrisome that when such tragedies happen, there is no public outrage to at least bring some comfort and justice to the victims families. What kind of a society are we turning out to be?
This is a good effort needed to provide information to tour guides about protecting the rights of tourists visiting Maldives. Since 30 per cent of our GDP comes from the tourists who visit our sunny side, we must do all we can to keep them happy so that they will spread the word of our excellent service and make return trips too.
The same enthusiasm needs to be provided to protect the rights of Maldivians in different fields. More public safety safety programs should be conducted to protect Maldivians so that that we don't have incidents such as the five young men who died in a Municipality fish market well due to inhaling toxic gas . The presence of such deadly gas was alerted by the Food and Drug Authority to Municipality who repudiate that claim. In another incident last week, in a crime of passion a former boyfriend killed a 17-year old girl in what appears to be a love feud. The 24-year old boy who knifed the girl to death is reported to have tried to commit suicide earlier without success. The young man in question clearly has some mental problem and it is worrying that in a small island of 600 people, those who are responsible to look after the community are unable to provide the kind of care needed.
It is also worrisome that when such tragedies happen, there is no public outrage to at least bring some comfort and justice to the victims families. What kind of a society are we turning out to be?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Singapore's pioneer civil servant J.Y.Pillay speaks
J.Y. Pillay (b. 30 March 1934, Klang, Malaya) is one of the pioneers who helped build the Singapore economy after its separation from Malaysia in 1965. His single most significant contribution is in building Singapore Airlines (SIA) into a leading world-class carrier. One of the few highest-ranked Civil Service officers (Staff Grade III), he is also known as a visionary and a brilliant bureaucrat.
Pillay had his early education at St John's Institution in Kuala Lumpur. He completed his tertiary education at the University of London's Imperial College of Science and Technology, where he obtained a first class honours in Engineering in 1956. After working in the United Kingdom and Malaya for a few years, he came to Singapore to work in the Ministry of Finance in 1961.
Despite its small size and lacking any natural resources, the success story of this island nation of 4 million people is a remarkable one.
In a series of talks organised by The Straits Times and the EDB Society, Singapore's economic and policy pioneers are talking about their experience. The first two speakers were Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Tamasek Holdings chairman S. Dhanabalan.
Mr. Pillay took centre stage at the Pioneer talks Series dialogue on Monday in the old parliament house.
In the wide-ranging discussion, the private man who rarely gives interviews, touched on his time in the civil service and his move into the private sector.
The former Chairman of SIA also shared candidly his views on how the present generation of Singaporeans could learn from their predecessors in confronting new frontiers.
He said: "You must have guts, a little bit of guts. To me, it hasn't changed from the time of Adam. The environment has changed. So, each generation has to figure out its salvation as it goes along."
Unlike his generation, today's young have not experienced the shock of the Japanese Occupation and other shocks in subsequent decades, said Mr Pillay, who turns 74 on March 30.
'These are the people who should read all these books that are being written on Singapore's history, the past 50 years. Unfortunately, they don't. That's the way with youngsters. They are looking too much to the future - which is good - not so much backward,' he said in response to Straits Times reader Jonathan Chee at the EDB Society-Straits Times Pioneers seminar yesterday.
Pillay had his early education at St John's Institution in Kuala Lumpur. He completed his tertiary education at the University of London's Imperial College of Science and Technology, where he obtained a first class honours in Engineering in 1956. After working in the United Kingdom and Malaya for a few years, he came to Singapore to work in the Ministry of Finance in 1961.
Despite its small size and lacking any natural resources, the success story of this island nation of 4 million people is a remarkable one.
In a series of talks organised by The Straits Times and the EDB Society, Singapore's economic and policy pioneers are talking about their experience. The first two speakers were Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Tamasek Holdings chairman S. Dhanabalan.
Mr. Pillay took centre stage at the Pioneer talks Series dialogue on Monday in the old parliament house.
In the wide-ranging discussion, the private man who rarely gives interviews, touched on his time in the civil service and his move into the private sector.
The former Chairman of SIA also shared candidly his views on how the present generation of Singaporeans could learn from their predecessors in confronting new frontiers.
He said: "You must have guts, a little bit of guts. To me, it hasn't changed from the time of Adam. The environment has changed. So, each generation has to figure out its salvation as it goes along."
Unlike his generation, today's young have not experienced the shock of the Japanese Occupation and other shocks in subsequent decades, said Mr Pillay, who turns 74 on March 30.
'These are the people who should read all these books that are being written on Singapore's history, the past 50 years. Unfortunately, they don't. That's the way with youngsters. They are looking too much to the future - which is good - not so much backward,' he said in response to Straits Times reader Jonathan Chee at the EDB Society-Straits Times Pioneers seminar yesterday.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Public safety should be taken more seriously
The well in the fish market above has claimed the lives of five young Maldivians between the ages of 20 and 24. The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (FDA) says it has warned the Malé Municipality of health and safety risks associated with the well due to excess levels of ammonium gas.
Clearly the well was a death trap. Male Municipality reiterates that they were not informed of the toxic levels of ammonium.
Most Maldivians do not take safety measures very seriously and it is alarming that the government authorities responsible for public safety are taking a callous attitude in discharging their duty as evident in the FDA and Male Municipality response to this tragedy.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Call girl could get 1 million from her infamy
The 22-year-old Ashley Alexandra Dupre who is the call girl hired by the disgraced New York governor Eliot Spitzer for $1,000-an-hour is reportedly on her way to make tons of money while criminal charges against the former governor are just beginning.
Ashley Dupre a college drop out was an aspiring singer whose turbulent and difficult life led her to prostitution where she found the promise of the good life. Now her songs have become the most popular downloads on a music-sharing Web site. Her songs "What We Want" and "Move Ya Body" are ranked as the two best-selling songs on the AimeStreet.com. A spokesman for Aime Street, which uses a demand-price model where users pay more for popular songs, would not confirm how many times Dupre's songs had been downloaded. But he said "Move ya Body," which was uploaded to the site around 2 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday, rose to the highest download price (98 cents) faster than any other song in the site's history.
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt told the Access Hollywood television program on Friday that he plans to offer Dupre $1 million to pose nude in his magazine.
Earlier in the week, the lawyer for Dupre lashed out at the media for thrusting the young woman into the “public glare” without her consent and publishing revealing photos on the basis of the fair use argument. Her attorney, Don D. Buchwald, said she did not consent to the use of her photos in revealing manner, and the usage may be a violation of federal copyright laws. He said the photos have appeared on commercial Web sites without her consent. Buchwald stopped short of saying Dupre would sue media outlets, but he contended that she is not a public figure and said he would take “all steps that we deem necessary or appropriate to protect Dupre from any unwarranted exploitation of her name, picture, voice or likeness for purposes of profit.”
Dupre's 15 minutes of infamy has risen her to a top star. Hollywood would soon be after her to make a film.
Ashley Dupre a college drop out was an aspiring singer whose turbulent and difficult life led her to prostitution where she found the promise of the good life. Now her songs have become the most popular downloads on a music-sharing Web site. Her songs "What We Want" and "Move Ya Body" are ranked as the two best-selling songs on the AimeStreet.com. A spokesman for Aime Street, which uses a demand-price model where users pay more for popular songs, would not confirm how many times Dupre's songs had been downloaded. But he said "Move ya Body," which was uploaded to the site around 2 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday, rose to the highest download price (98 cents) faster than any other song in the site's history.
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt told the Access Hollywood television program on Friday that he plans to offer Dupre $1 million to pose nude in his magazine.
Earlier in the week, the lawyer for Dupre lashed out at the media for thrusting the young woman into the “public glare” without her consent and publishing revealing photos on the basis of the fair use argument. Her attorney, Don D. Buchwald, said she did not consent to the use of her photos in revealing manner, and the usage may be a violation of federal copyright laws. He said the photos have appeared on commercial Web sites without her consent. Buchwald stopped short of saying Dupre would sue media outlets, but he contended that she is not a public figure and said he would take “all steps that we deem necessary or appropriate to protect Dupre from any unwarranted exploitation of her name, picture, voice or likeness for purposes of profit.”
Dupre's 15 minutes of infamy has risen her to a top star. Hollywood would soon be after her to make a film.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Exposing double standards
New York claims to be the financial capital of the world and its powerful chief executive Governor Eliot Spitzer, 48, whose rise to political power as a fierce enforcer of ethics in public life was undone by revelations of his own involvement with prostitutes, resigned on Wednesday, becoming the first New York governor to leave office amid scandal in nearly a century.
The scion of a wealthy New York real estate baron, Mr. Spitzer graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School before rising to fame as an avenging state attorney general, hunting down Wall Street criminals with an uncompromising fervor. Now the same rules that he imposed on other people are haunting him in his link to a high class prostitution ring with the potential for criminal charges to be levied against him by US attorneys.
Now the media pundits and pop psychologists are searching for an answer why a man who demonstrated an unnerving steeliness for taking on the misconduct of the top Wall Street barons and who had everything going for him, had secretly led such a reckless life, possibly breaking federal laws.
At his Midtown Manhattan office, the governor — with his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer, at his side — offered an apology to his family and to the public and said he would devote himself to serving “the common good.”
“From those to whom much is given, much is expected,” Mr. Spitzer said. “I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.”
“Over the course of my public life, I have insisted — I believe correctly — that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct,” he said. “I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.”
High-end sex market is a growing industry in most global cities, and men from the financial sector are an important part of the clientele. Eliot Spitzer was a former attorney general before he became governor in New York and he knows the rules that have got him into trouble.
The scion of a wealthy New York real estate baron, Mr. Spitzer graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School before rising to fame as an avenging state attorney general, hunting down Wall Street criminals with an uncompromising fervor. Now the same rules that he imposed on other people are haunting him in his link to a high class prostitution ring with the potential for criminal charges to be levied against him by US attorneys.
Now the media pundits and pop psychologists are searching for an answer why a man who demonstrated an unnerving steeliness for taking on the misconduct of the top Wall Street barons and who had everything going for him, had secretly led such a reckless life, possibly breaking federal laws.
At his Midtown Manhattan office, the governor — with his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer, at his side — offered an apology to his family and to the public and said he would devote himself to serving “the common good.”
“From those to whom much is given, much is expected,” Mr. Spitzer said. “I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.”
“Over the course of my public life, I have insisted — I believe correctly — that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct,” he said. “I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.”
High-end sex market is a growing industry in most global cities, and men from the financial sector are an important part of the clientele. Eliot Spitzer was a former attorney general before he became governor in New York and he knows the rules that have got him into trouble.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
What do we celebrate in our National Day?
Maldives celebrates the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Rabee-al-Awwal as its National Day. This was the day, according to our history, Mohamed Thakurufan of Uteem assassinated Andhiri Andhirin and seized control of Malé.
Who was this Adhiri Adhirin?
In 1558 after the sultan was killed, the Portuguese established a small trading outpost in Maldives, which they administered from their main colony in Goa. It is said that they tried to impose Christianity on the locals. The Portuguese rule only lasted for fifteen years when Mohamed Thakurufan defeated the Portugese regent Adherin Adherin.
In celebrating our National Day, what values are we really celebrating?
We certainly honour the dead heroes who fought for our freedom after years of being enslaved by Andhiri Andhirin. The same value of freedom and justice must be the values that we celebrate if history (even if the story is a myth) is to have any meaning in our daily lives.
In celebrating the National Day, there are few events, either official or unofficial that strike a cord with the younger generation demonstrating the significance of this day. It is turning out to be just another holiday when we escape to the islands or resorts to recharge ourselves from the drudgery of our warped life.
Who was this Adhiri Adhirin?
In 1558 after the sultan was killed, the Portuguese established a small trading outpost in Maldives, which they administered from their main colony in Goa. It is said that they tried to impose Christianity on the locals. The Portuguese rule only lasted for fifteen years when Mohamed Thakurufan defeated the Portugese regent Adherin Adherin.
In celebrating our National Day, what values are we really celebrating?
We certainly honour the dead heroes who fought for our freedom after years of being enslaved by Andhiri Andhirin. The same value of freedom and justice must be the values that we celebrate if history (even if the story is a myth) is to have any meaning in our daily lives.
In celebrating the National Day, there are few events, either official or unofficial that strike a cord with the younger generation demonstrating the significance of this day. It is turning out to be just another holiday when we escape to the islands or resorts to recharge ourselves from the drudgery of our warped life.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
What has driven Maldivian students to Taleban?
As reported on Miadhu, the president of Supreme Council Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed has revealed that there are Maldivians trained in warfare tactics who are fighting alongside Mullah Umar and others with Taliban.
“We have received information that they have studied with the followers of Usama Bin Laden and Mulla Umar and that some are actually working with them. There are many young Maldivians there now” said Sheikh Rasheed.
At what point have Maldivian students in Pakistan turned to Taleban to take up suicide killing and become martyrs? How did this start?
Are Maldivian parents aware that such radicalisation is happening to their children sent to study religion? If this is happening with their consent then we have a huge mountain to climb to defeat radicalism and Sheik Rasheed does not have the capacity to do it. This is a frightening situation.
“We have received information that they have studied with the followers of Usama Bin Laden and Mulla Umar and that some are actually working with them. There are many young Maldivians there now” said Sheikh Rasheed.
At what point have Maldivian students in Pakistan turned to Taleban to take up suicide killing and become martyrs? How did this start?
Are Maldivian parents aware that such radicalisation is happening to their children sent to study religion? If this is happening with their consent then we have a huge mountain to climb to defeat radicalism and Sheik Rasheed does not have the capacity to do it. This is a frightening situation.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Criminals devour 2 million daily selling drugs
National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB) reports that drug users in Maldives pay RS 2million or more to pursue the deadly habit which is killing one-third of our younger generation while enriching the despicable criminals who indulge in this trade.
The only way to save our younger generation from the scourge of drugs is to enforce death penalty for drug traffickers. Our Government should conduct intense inspections at all entry points into Maldives so that we can stop the inflow of drugs.
Will our Government ever get tough to deal with the criminals trafficking and selling drugs or are we as a nation destined to witness the slow, degrading and painful death of our youngsters?
This is an unbelievable scenario. Maldives is now richer than an LDC country (least developed country as defined by UN) and we are going to allow foreigners to invest in mega projects in this country that will further increase the income gap while the majority of our population are still struggling to meet their daily needs. The illegal drug trade is enriching the criminals and killing those who fall into their trap. Most of the drug users and addicts would not have the kind of money to continue their deadly habit and so it leads to robbery and crime. This has become an epidemic and the whole society is suffering and yet the Government has still not decided to take firm action to put away the traffickers for good, while continuing to provide proper treatment for rehabilitation.
The only way to save our younger generation from the scourge of drugs is to enforce death penalty for drug traffickers. Our Government should conduct intense inspections at all entry points into Maldives so that we can stop the inflow of drugs.
Will our Government ever get tough to deal with the criminals trafficking and selling drugs or are we as a nation destined to witness the slow, degrading and painful death of our youngsters?
This is an unbelievable scenario. Maldives is now richer than an LDC country (least developed country as defined by UN) and we are going to allow foreigners to invest in mega projects in this country that will further increase the income gap while the majority of our population are still struggling to meet their daily needs. The illegal drug trade is enriching the criminals and killing those who fall into their trap. Most of the drug users and addicts would not have the kind of money to continue their deadly habit and so it leads to robbery and crime. This has become an epidemic and the whole society is suffering and yet the Government has still not decided to take firm action to put away the traffickers for good, while continuing to provide proper treatment for rehabilitation.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Tragic deaths reflect a bigger problem
Five people between the ages of 20 to 24 from one family in Thaa Diyamigili have died while carrying out some work in the junction at the fish market in Male'.
While every newspaper has carried this tragic news, there are no details of who assigned work to them, under what conditions and what are the safety precautions that should have been taken if such measures are at all followed in Maldives. What the journalists reported is the drama that unfolded following this accident and as in many cases in Maldives the truth will never come out and we will not learn anything from this incident.
I wonder weather this incident will be raised in our parliament.
In their youthful zest and ignorance, some Maldivians risk their lives without taking the basic precautions such as checking the air quality of the junction well or wearing protective goggles before going down the well. As we see in this case, the consequences are fatal. While so much work is going on in Maldives, our Government has not mandated safety for workers and they do not run safety awareness programmes to educate the public.
We have lost our work ethic and our interest is only to make money. Our Government has to show urgency to protect our society and we do not have to wait to lose lives before regulations of safety are enforced.
While every newspaper has carried this tragic news, there are no details of who assigned work to them, under what conditions and what are the safety precautions that should have been taken if such measures are at all followed in Maldives. What the journalists reported is the drama that unfolded following this accident and as in many cases in Maldives the truth will never come out and we will not learn anything from this incident.
I wonder weather this incident will be raised in our parliament.
In their youthful zest and ignorance, some Maldivians risk their lives without taking the basic precautions such as checking the air quality of the junction well or wearing protective goggles before going down the well. As we see in this case, the consequences are fatal. While so much work is going on in Maldives, our Government has not mandated safety for workers and they do not run safety awareness programmes to educate the public.
We have lost our work ethic and our interest is only to make money. Our Government has to show urgency to protect our society and we do not have to wait to lose lives before regulations of safety are enforced.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Open economies always do better
Here are some excerpts taken from an article on New Zealand Herald written by Mike Moore, a former prime minister and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
'Why is it that countries that should be wealthy, that have resources, have continued to underperform? Poverty is a man-made thing so we can fix it, but how and what works and what fails? What's the common denominator in success and failure?
Open economies always do better. Trade and competition drive up results and help to combat corruption, as well as allocate resources more efficiently. Private ownership, spread through society, works.
The tragedy of large-scale privatisation in countries such as Russia was the brutal insider wealth grabs. A free market without solid, trusted institutions, property rights, independent courts, a professional public service and democracy is not a free market but a black market.
Firm, predictable civil institutions create a vital factor to promote success. Trust. Trust in the courts, in contracts, is a serious issue. Good governance is fundamental.'
The full article.
'Why is it that countries that should be wealthy, that have resources, have continued to underperform? Poverty is a man-made thing so we can fix it, but how and what works and what fails? What's the common denominator in success and failure?
Open economies always do better. Trade and competition drive up results and help to combat corruption, as well as allocate resources more efficiently. Private ownership, spread through society, works.
The tragedy of large-scale privatisation in countries such as Russia was the brutal insider wealth grabs. A free market without solid, trusted institutions, property rights, independent courts, a professional public service and democracy is not a free market but a black market.
Firm, predictable civil institutions create a vital factor to promote success. Trust. Trust in the courts, in contracts, is a serious issue. Good governance is fundamental.'
The full article.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
How much is pop culture affecting us?
The American party girl, model,actress and singer Lindsay Lohan, 21 has been in the news in the last few years more for news of her escapades from drug rehabilitaion centres.
Now she is in the news for posing nude recreating America's most famous Star Marilyn Monroe whose life was cut short when she died of a drug overdose in 1962. Many may find Lindsay's photos tasteless, but these type of gimmicks sells magazines as New York fashion magazine found out.
The pictures have been so popular that the magazine's Web site crashed, receiving around 20 million daily page views on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The New York Times has joined a raging debate on the merit of this photo shoot calling the images of Lohan-as-Monroe "macabre".
Here's Lindsay singing one of her songs.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Singapore's national pride soars sky high
There was an irresistible urge for the pride of a nation that erupted into celebration when the city state of Singapore was announced on Thursday as winning the right to host the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called it a new era for Southeast Asian sport. Singapore beat the only other contender, Moscow, for the Games, which will have around 3,200 athletes, aged 14-18, competing in 26 sports.
It will be the first time that Singapore has hosted a multi-disciplinary sporting event of such a magnitude. “It is a great honour and privilege for all of us,” said Prime Minister Lee in front of thousands of cheering supporters wearing red and white, the colours of the national flag.
Singapore is a real-life working model of Olympic values in practice, said Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who also launched the Junior Reach Ambassadors' programme. The Junior Reach Ambassadors' programme is a part of the restructured Feedback Unit to gather feedback from various groups of Singapore. “By choosing Singapore, the IOC (International Olympic Council) has declared that it is possible for small young cities like Singapore to host the Olympic movement,” he said.
Singapore with a population of 4.6 million has played its size-is-not-everything card to perfection. Now the hard work beyond the huge buzz has begun in earnest to make the event a success.
Singapore is the wealthiest nation in Asia ex-Japan, with a 2006 Gross Domestic Product of about $29,000 per capita, on par with G-7 member Italy.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The elderly to get axed first
While most of the capitalistic world celebrates workers day on May 1, in Maldives the Government employees aged 65 and older will be forced to retire on the same day, when the Civil Service Act comes into effect.
While streamlining the bloated and inefficient civil service structure is necessary, the layoffs for older workers come even while there is no pension provisions in place for them. Thus the changes will come hard on a vulnerable segment of our society who are understandably nervous especially because no other opportunity exists for any alternative gainful work.
These forcibly retired civil servants will be completely dissolutioned when they realise that for politicians, the same standard is not applied. This is a debatable point which ought to be debated in parliament to work out a similar retirement age for politicians as well. The political parties need to look into this in the interest of fairness.
As usual our Government, the opposition political parties in parliament and the civil service commission are targeting the older workers first- the soft targets that can be pushed over into despair without the rancour which will come with aged politicians serving their own interest by remaining on public payroll.
As pointed out by the MMA governor Jihad, in addition to the failed monetary policy there is a growing income inequality among Maldivians, and he is calling for greater wealth redistribution through taxation. He believes the bill on business profit tax, currently awaiting parliamentary consideration, would be “a step in the right direction”, but questions whether there is the “political willpower” to pass the bill in an election year.
Thus, without any regard to build a resilient community through financial security for retirement, the older workers are driven off like sheep to the slaughter house. Maldives is a country that has an expatriate population of 65,000 foreign workers. Surely some of our older workers can be retrained to stretch their work potential and create innovative work opportunities to fit younger workers or replace expatriate labour where Maldivians can be given the training and incentives to step in to the job.
Beyond the benefit of the pension the older workers will get, the Government will need to also provide targeted assistance to those of them who need help to adjust to the increased cost of living conditions.
Our economy needs to be restructured. We should provide a full range of education and training for people to take up work opportunities in the hospitality industry and other indutries like fishing, agriculture and retail business. To spur the growth of innovative enterprises, our Government should provide adequate incentives for people to create new ideas and products. We have the resources and the capacity to achieve these results if the politicians can find the will to do so.
While streamlining the bloated and inefficient civil service structure is necessary, the layoffs for older workers come even while there is no pension provisions in place for them. Thus the changes will come hard on a vulnerable segment of our society who are understandably nervous especially because no other opportunity exists for any alternative gainful work.
These forcibly retired civil servants will be completely dissolutioned when they realise that for politicians, the same standard is not applied. This is a debatable point which ought to be debated in parliament to work out a similar retirement age for politicians as well. The political parties need to look into this in the interest of fairness.
As usual our Government, the opposition political parties in parliament and the civil service commission are targeting the older workers first- the soft targets that can be pushed over into despair without the rancour which will come with aged politicians serving their own interest by remaining on public payroll.
As pointed out by the MMA governor Jihad, in addition to the failed monetary policy there is a growing income inequality among Maldivians, and he is calling for greater wealth redistribution through taxation. He believes the bill on business profit tax, currently awaiting parliamentary consideration, would be “a step in the right direction”, but questions whether there is the “political willpower” to pass the bill in an election year.
Thus, without any regard to build a resilient community through financial security for retirement, the older workers are driven off like sheep to the slaughter house. Maldives is a country that has an expatriate population of 65,000 foreign workers. Surely some of our older workers can be retrained to stretch their work potential and create innovative work opportunities to fit younger workers or replace expatriate labour where Maldivians can be given the training and incentives to step in to the job.
Beyond the benefit of the pension the older workers will get, the Government will need to also provide targeted assistance to those of them who need help to adjust to the increased cost of living conditions.
Our economy needs to be restructured. We should provide a full range of education and training for people to take up work opportunities in the hospitality industry and other indutries like fishing, agriculture and retail business. To spur the growth of innovative enterprises, our Government should provide adequate incentives for people to create new ideas and products. We have the resources and the capacity to achieve these results if the politicians can find the will to do so.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A crisis of confidence
The Governor of Maldives Monetory Authority Mr. Abdulla Jihad revealed Thursday what many Maldivians knew for a long time. The Maldivian tourist resort owners are keeping their finance outside Maldives and they do it for two reasons.
1) They get better benefits abroad, and
2) Lack of confidence in the Maldives financial system.
In a country that does not have an income tax system, the Maldivian business elites have always enjoyed an unfair advantage over the rest of the population.
Much of the industrial world follows Adam Smith's free market capitalistic theory espoused in 'The Wealth of the Nations' that rests on his explanation of how rational self-interest in a free-market economy leads to economic well-being. Such free markets without certain checks and balances have the tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few as we have seen through out the world, including Maldives. Thus checks and balances are necessary if it is to provide a reasonably equitable distribution of wealth. The fundamentals of economics haven't changed, yet in the face of clear evidence of a growing gap between rich and poor, and with no hope of an escape from poverty for millions of people worldwide, we cannot willingly accept the argument that the economy is best left to market forces.
The maximum amount of wealth of a nation lies in the wealth of its people, everything that the mass of people have. Therefore, it is necessary to structure the economy from the perpective of the consumers. It is important to balance the income gap without giving undue priviledges to the business elites at the expense of the rest of society most of whom are struggling to meet daily demands of life.
1) They get better benefits abroad, and
2) Lack of confidence in the Maldives financial system.
In a country that does not have an income tax system, the Maldivian business elites have always enjoyed an unfair advantage over the rest of the population.
Much of the industrial world follows Adam Smith's free market capitalistic theory espoused in 'The Wealth of the Nations' that rests on his explanation of how rational self-interest in a free-market economy leads to economic well-being. Such free markets without certain checks and balances have the tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few as we have seen through out the world, including Maldives. Thus checks and balances are necessary if it is to provide a reasonably equitable distribution of wealth. The fundamentals of economics haven't changed, yet in the face of clear evidence of a growing gap between rich and poor, and with no hope of an escape from poverty for millions of people worldwide, we cannot willingly accept the argument that the economy is best left to market forces.
The maximum amount of wealth of a nation lies in the wealth of its people, everything that the mass of people have. Therefore, it is necessary to structure the economy from the perpective of the consumers. It is important to balance the income gap without giving undue priviledges to the business elites at the expense of the rest of society most of whom are struggling to meet daily demands of life.
Forcing more competition in the supermarkets
Supermarkets in UK could be forced to sell land to allow rivals to open in areas where there is not enough competition.
The United Kingdom is dominated by four supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons that control 75 percent of the market share of the 120 billion pounds grocery market.
The Competition Commission, the industry watchdog has recommended a new “competition test” under which authorities would have to take account of how many outlets a supermarket already has in a particular area.
Other measures included the creation of a new independent ombudsman or ‘shopping czar’ to oversee a code of practice between supermarkets and their suppliers.
The regulator wants an ombudsman to protect food suppliers against any dispute with the four major supermarkets.
More on BBC Business News.
The United Kingdom is dominated by four supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons that control 75 percent of the market share of the 120 billion pounds grocery market.
The Competition Commission, the industry watchdog has recommended a new “competition test” under which authorities would have to take account of how many outlets a supermarket already has in a particular area.
Other measures included the creation of a new independent ombudsman or ‘shopping czar’ to oversee a code of practice between supermarkets and their suppliers.
The regulator wants an ombudsman to protect food suppliers against any dispute with the four major supermarkets.
More on BBC Business News.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A touching goodbye
Tragedy struck the Singapore zoo's primates a second time in a week, when a young female orang utan died of a dislocated neck in a freak accident yesterday. At mid-day, Atina, aged two-and-a-half years, caught her neck in a hanging noose, which was part of a hammock in the apes' enclosure.Her mother Anita and other orang utans, in their haste to free her, tugged at her neck, dislocating it. She died instantly, said a zoo spokesman. Zookeepers could not reach Atina on time because her mother kept pushing them away.
The tragedy comes less than a week after Ah Meng, Singapore's famous orang utan died of old age. Ah Meng has appeared in more than 30 travel films and was the only non-human to receive a special award from the Singapore Tourism Board in recognition for her contribution towards tourism in Singapore.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Concern over increasing sex crimes
Ministry of Justice has amended sentencing guidelines on Monday to jail sex offenders instead of banishment after facing public outrage and criticism from rights groups who were enraged that four men who raped an under-aged girl were sentenced to two years banishment.
The mandatory prison sentencing for sex predators comes about at a time when the number of sexual crimes has increased in recent years. It is felt that evidence of such crimes that may have gone unreported in the past is now being brought to light because of public awareness.
In the international community, it has been commonly assumed that sexual disorders leading to various sexual crimes are caused by some kind of mental illness. While researchers are attempting to answer causes of perverted and sadistic behaviour that leads to heinous sexual offences, every society will need to work its own method to deal with deviant sexual behaviour and sexual offences with punishments that will include treatment of the repressed conditions.
If Maldives doesn't have the mental health experts to undertake such treatment immediately, we have to start asking the hard questions in order to find out what is going wrong with our society. In a close-knit society like Maldives with a 100 per cent Muslim population, why are we seeing gang rape of young girls?
The mandatory prison sentencing for sex predators comes about at a time when the number of sexual crimes has increased in recent years. It is felt that evidence of such crimes that may have gone unreported in the past is now being brought to light because of public awareness.
In the international community, it has been commonly assumed that sexual disorders leading to various sexual crimes are caused by some kind of mental illness. While researchers are attempting to answer causes of perverted and sadistic behaviour that leads to heinous sexual offences, every society will need to work its own method to deal with deviant sexual behaviour and sexual offences with punishments that will include treatment of the repressed conditions.
If Maldives doesn't have the mental health experts to undertake such treatment immediately, we have to start asking the hard questions in order to find out what is going wrong with our society. In a close-knit society like Maldives with a 100 per cent Muslim population, why are we seeing gang rape of young girls?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Smoking will kill 1 billion people
One billion people will die from tobacco-related causes by the end of the century if current consumption trends continue, according to a global report released Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Read more here.
WHO report has outlined six tobacco control policies. It calls it MPOWER: They are:
1)Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
2)Protect people from tobacco smoke
3)Offer help to quit tobacco use
4)Warn about the dangers of tobacco
5)Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
6)Raise taxes on tobacco
The report also breaks down tobacco consumption and prevention efforts country by country.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
What happened to the rights of 'Vakarugay Kudhin'?
An artice on haveeru online reads,"Increasing vakrugay kudhin in Maldives." Vakarugay kudhin is a derogatory term referring to children who were naughty, indisciplined and did not go to school. Haveeru article writes about a 14-year old boy who dropped out from primary 5 and is now lurking around the streets in Male looking for work. The boy says his parents know what he is doing. There are many more kids like him loitering around in Male and in other islands. These kids are not only wasting their time but often they get invovled in gang fights. Where are the parents? And why has the state abdicated its responsibility to provide opportunities for their education?
In a speech given to the special session of UN general assembly, an important point was made by our Minister of Women's Affairs. "Although we have never had gross violations of child rights in the Maldives, the CRC (convention on the rights of the child) has brought to our attention issues that need to be systematically addressed if the rights of all children are to be fulfilled. In fact. it has provided us with a yardstick against which our progress can be measured."
If what is reported on Haveeru is accurate, then the Minister's statement to the UN is false. There are gross violations of the rights of children in Maldives and it is appalling that our politicians are trying to gloss over and paint a rosy picture to the international community. Since Maldives has signed the UN convention on rights of the child in 1990 and ratified it in 1991, what steps have been taken to protect children and provide them with the nurtering environment they need. United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF plays an important role in supporting the government to achieve better childcare and development. So we have plenty of help available to avoid the situation we are facing. Our country is rich enough to provide good healthcare and education to our children and it is a gross violation of their rights when they are deprived the basic necessities.
In a speech given to the special session of UN general assembly, an important point was made by our Minister of Women's Affairs. "Although we have never had gross violations of child rights in the Maldives, the CRC (convention on the rights of the child) has brought to our attention issues that need to be systematically addressed if the rights of all children are to be fulfilled. In fact. it has provided us with a yardstick against which our progress can be measured."
If what is reported on Haveeru is accurate, then the Minister's statement to the UN is false. There are gross violations of the rights of children in Maldives and it is appalling that our politicians are trying to gloss over and paint a rosy picture to the international community. Since Maldives has signed the UN convention on rights of the child in 1990 and ratified it in 1991, what steps have been taken to protect children and provide them with the nurtering environment they need. United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF plays an important role in supporting the government to achieve better childcare and development. So we have plenty of help available to avoid the situation we are facing. Our country is rich enough to provide good healthcare and education to our children and it is a gross violation of their rights when they are deprived the basic necessities.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Appeasing the trouble makers
Male’ Municipality is opening up the artificial beach for entertainment. Municipality has said that necessary permits will be given upon registration of interest at the General Services Section of Municipality. Municipality further revealed that events are to be held during week end nights.
In a flash of inspiration, Municipalty has realised that violence and criminal activities in the jam-packed Male' is due to lack of entertainment especially during the weekends. Municipality notes many young people are seen mindlessly wandering around during night time.
Few years back, there were music shows staged during weekends at an open space in Maafannu. The young revelled while the neighbours found the music blast too loud to bear.
The strength of the Maldivian entertainment industry is anchored in the natural talent of artists such as singers and live bands. Concerts that feature both local and international talent can attract individuals from all socioeconomic classes. In order to promote arts and cultural activities, governmnet can offer various incentives to artists.
In a flash of inspiration, Municipalty has realised that violence and criminal activities in the jam-packed Male' is due to lack of entertainment especially during the weekends. Municipality notes many young people are seen mindlessly wandering around during night time.
Few years back, there were music shows staged during weekends at an open space in Maafannu. The young revelled while the neighbours found the music blast too loud to bear.
The strength of the Maldivian entertainment industry is anchored in the natural talent of artists such as singers and live bands. Concerts that feature both local and international talent can attract individuals from all socioeconomic classes. In order to promote arts and cultural activities, governmnet can offer various incentives to artists.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Lock up the child rapists
The case of gang raping a child in Kurendhoo which happened recently has been widely reported in Maldives. The rapists were first handed an eight month banishment which was increased to two years banishing and fifteen lashes of whipping by a higher court. The Human Rights Commission has criticised the banishment of the convicted individuals, as they will have a negative influence on the communities they are banished to.
This is a very disturbing story with profound consequences for families living in very small communities. In the recent past people who were charged with drug related offences were sent to various islands where they continued the drug habits and introduced it to the island community as well. Now we have a ready market for consumption of drugs across all the islands.
Gang rape is considered a very serious offence and the convicted individuals should be given lenghty prison sentences and professional counselling, so that when they eventually come out they will control the mad fantasies and be productive citizens. It is time for legislators to revise the sentencing guidelines.
This is a very disturbing story with profound consequences for families living in very small communities. In the recent past people who were charged with drug related offences were sent to various islands where they continued the drug habits and introduced it to the island community as well. Now we have a ready market for consumption of drugs across all the islands.
Gang rape is considered a very serious offence and the convicted individuals should be given lenghty prison sentences and professional counselling, so that when they eventually come out they will control the mad fantasies and be productive citizens. It is time for legislators to revise the sentencing guidelines.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Liberal imam assaulted
Dr.Afraasheem escaped unhurt with police protection when a group of men assaulted him outside the mosque where he led the Friday prayer.Is Afraasheem being attacked by the radical conservatives because of his liberal views? Where has the tolerance and respect of peace-loving Muslims gone?
This also proves that our Government and Mathee Majlis are not only inapt but they have demagogued our religion as well.
Friday, February 01, 2008
A pilgrimage for humanity
A British man has started a walk to India without using money, relying on the goodwill of people along the way or working for bed and board, he said Wednesday.
Former dotcom businessman Mark Boyle, from Bristol, aims to end up at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace after the 9,000-mile trek, which he reckons will take him about two and a half years.
"I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero. I won't actually touch money along the way," the 28-year-old told BBC radio.
Walking between 15 and 45 miles a day, he plans to work his way down through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching Gandhi's birthplace of Porbandar on India's west coast.
Boyle describes himself as a 'freeeconomist'- a movement which began in United States and aims to create a moneyless society. On his blog, Boyle said he will also account for how it feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to walk to India - the highs and the lows, the good days, the non-so-apparently good days and the days when he is on the edge of despair!
Former dotcom businessman Mark Boyle, from Bristol, aims to end up at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace after the 9,000-mile trek, which he reckons will take him about two and a half years.
"I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero. I won't actually touch money along the way," the 28-year-old told BBC radio.
Walking between 15 and 45 miles a day, he plans to work his way down through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching Gandhi's birthplace of Porbandar on India's west coast.
Boyle describes himself as a 'freeeconomist'- a movement which began in United States and aims to create a moneyless society. On his blog, Boyle said he will also account for how it feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to walk to India - the highs and the lows, the good days, the non-so-apparently good days and the days when he is on the edge of despair!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Do we really respect the dead?
Despite all the great changes that have occurred in the world in technology and communication, the process of showing respect to the deceased has remained the same. It has been said that one can measure how civilized a culture is by the way its dead are treated.
According to this news article, quite a number of human bones had been discovered in a private residence near the Maffannu Cemetery, Male'.
According to this news article, quite a number of human bones had been discovered in a private residence near the Maffannu Cemetery, Male'.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Paulo Coelho seeks questions
International best selling novelist Paulo Coelho whose books include 'The Alchemist' wants your questions. A video clip of Paulo Coelho's request from the World Economic Forum is below.
To answer the Davos Question go to: http://www.youtube.com/davos Paulo Coelho's YouTube channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/paulabraconn~
Transcript: "For these past ten years I've been participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos. As a writer, as a human being I think that everybody in the world is committed to improve the state of the world. Therefore during this year we would like to have your question, your thoughts. How can we, as a society, meaning everybody, really improve the situation of the world. Please upload your answer to http://www.youtube.com/davos."
To answer the Davos Question go to: http://www.youtube.com/davos Paulo Coelho's YouTube channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/paulabraconn~
Transcript: "For these past ten years I've been participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos. As a writer, as a human being I think that everybody in the world is committed to improve the state of the world. Therefore during this year we would like to have your question, your thoughts. How can we, as a society, meaning everybody, really improve the situation of the world. Please upload your answer to http://www.youtube.com/davos."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Starting to look like a recession
Financial news papers around the world have started reporting about Monday's Asian stock market plunge, recalling memories of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when the stock markets took a steep nose dive.
Financial Times reports that the Indian shares sank more than 11 per cent as the market opened Tuesday, resulting in a one-hour trading suspension. Hong Kong was on track for its worst two-day fall since the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recorded its biggest fall since the index was launched in 2000, closing 7.1 per cent lower.
The Asian market losses followed on from Europe’s declines on Monday, and a fall in New York futures suggested no respite for US equities when markets reopen later after Monday’s holiday- Martin Luther remembrance day.
In a recession consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will be adversely affected.
What effect will such recessionary pressures have on the Maldivian economy? Maldives is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, and the gloom in the global economic horizon will have a negative impact on our tourism.
Hopefully, our politicians will devote enough time to manage the economy while they wrestle to institute a democratic form of government in Maldives.
Financial Times reports that the Indian shares sank more than 11 per cent as the market opened Tuesday, resulting in a one-hour trading suspension. Hong Kong was on track for its worst two-day fall since the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recorded its biggest fall since the index was launched in 2000, closing 7.1 per cent lower.
The Asian market losses followed on from Europe’s declines on Monday, and a fall in New York futures suggested no respite for US equities when markets reopen later after Monday’s holiday- Martin Luther remembrance day.
In a recession consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will be adversely affected.
What effect will such recessionary pressures have on the Maldivian economy? Maldives is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, and the gloom in the global economic horizon will have a negative impact on our tourism.
Hopefully, our politicians will devote enough time to manage the economy while they wrestle to institute a democratic form of government in Maldives.
Monday, January 21, 2008
The price of social apathy!!!
Source: jazeera.comHave we lost the potential to think beyond the boundaries of materialism? Do we no longer care more for the people than for the dollar? Or is this an unfortunate accident and there is no need to look for answers beyond that.
These words may sound hollow in a world controlled by elitist groups who thrive in chaos.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Calling for Ideological Debates
The campaign for the presidential election in Maldives is gaining momentum and is largely driven one factor: the removal of the incumbent president who has declared his intention to seek re-election under the new constitution which limits the president's tenure to two terms. The opposition's campaign is cluttered with vitriol against the president who is completing his 6th five-year term. There is a manic frenzy by the opposition in the special majlis to push this particular agenda while amending the constitution, now in its last stage. Who ever contests for the presidency will have to put up with the rigors of political skulduggery. The issues of health care, education, housing, drug addiction, religious extremism and increasing gang violence that plague our country are drowned out by the political madness that has gripped the political parties.
Political parties are funded by public money and therefore they have a responsibility to educate and explain their policies in public forums on how to deal with these problems.
If the political campaigns are only based on personalities, the critical issues of the country will be left out. The road circus that the public was treated to when former president Ibrahim Nasir resigned nearly 30 years back will not be the most civilized and productive way to address grievances or to resolve conflicts. Long before Maldives engaged the world's top PR company Hill and Knowlton, our country was using its own equally clever PR masters and spin doctors. They used hypocrisy and deception with devastating effect to rob our civil rights and destroy our unity. The public is only now waking up from the insecurities and mind-controlling servitude that they introduced.
Though we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, our true faith has always been missing. Our leaders are compromising good with evil which never pays in the end. Materialism is the guiding force that motivates us in life. This has resulted in a society that lacks care and empathy towards the less fortunate, --- a society with profound struggles for those living at the lower end of society.
It is a crying shame that our economic development has only enriched the economic and political elites while completely neglecting the interest of the common man for so long.
It is time to claim back our human rights and civil rights from the politicians who have exploited us. We cannot allow our future generations to be doomed. We should challenge the preachers who act out with holier-than-thou attitude and do not practise what they preach. Our system needs changing and politicians should not confuse people of what the real issues are. They should lock in ideological debates with political opponents but must stick to the issues so that solutions can be found for the future. No system causes problems, it is people within the system who cause them.
We are now at a turning point in our history- for good or for worse.
Political parties are funded by public money and therefore they have a responsibility to educate and explain their policies in public forums on how to deal with these problems.
If the political campaigns are only based on personalities, the critical issues of the country will be left out. The road circus that the public was treated to when former president Ibrahim Nasir resigned nearly 30 years back will not be the most civilized and productive way to address grievances or to resolve conflicts. Long before Maldives engaged the world's top PR company Hill and Knowlton, our country was using its own equally clever PR masters and spin doctors. They used hypocrisy and deception with devastating effect to rob our civil rights and destroy our unity. The public is only now waking up from the insecurities and mind-controlling servitude that they introduced.
Though we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, our true faith has always been missing. Our leaders are compromising good with evil which never pays in the end. Materialism is the guiding force that motivates us in life. This has resulted in a society that lacks care and empathy towards the less fortunate, --- a society with profound struggles for those living at the lower end of society.
It is a crying shame that our economic development has only enriched the economic and political elites while completely neglecting the interest of the common man for so long.
It is time to claim back our human rights and civil rights from the politicians who have exploited us. We cannot allow our future generations to be doomed. We should challenge the preachers who act out with holier-than-thou attitude and do not practise what they preach. Our system needs changing and politicians should not confuse people of what the real issues are. They should lock in ideological debates with political opponents but must stick to the issues so that solutions can be found for the future. No system causes problems, it is people within the system who cause them.
We are now at a turning point in our history- for good or for worse.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Financial success has left the elderly neglected
Medical experts expressing their views in a seminar, as reported here have put the blame on changes in the Maldivian lifestyle which has led to widespread neglect of the elderly.
The director of local organisation Maldives Centre of Ageing (MCA), which organised the event, urged the Government to “strengthen the law” and “hold abusive family members to account”.
The Government is drafting a new policy to protect the country’s older citizens, as it always does from eradicating drugs to controlling violence.
This is an incredible situation in Maldives, a country that insists it must remain a 100 per cent Muslim country. Islam is a religion that calls for respect and care for parents and the elderly.
We tend to forget that the way we treat our parents, our children will treat us in the same fashion, because that's the role model we are presenting to them. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
Though the number of these cases may not be very high, the fact that such abuses do exist and continue to increase is an alarming social problem.
These elderly persons have raised children and contributed to society and deserve to live out their sunset years in dignity. It is up to their family to look after them with all their physical and mental deficiencies. The state should provide help and the support to the care givers who sometimes face very difficult predicaments. Maldives is rich enough to be able to look after the elderly without them becoming a burden on their families and society. While laws are necessary, the starting point is that we have to open up our hearts and become a caring society. Unless we do it out of love and compassion, no amount of laws can solve this problem.
The director of local organisation Maldives Centre of Ageing (MCA), which organised the event, urged the Government to “strengthen the law” and “hold abusive family members to account”.
The Government is drafting a new policy to protect the country’s older citizens, as it always does from eradicating drugs to controlling violence.
This is an incredible situation in Maldives, a country that insists it must remain a 100 per cent Muslim country. Islam is a religion that calls for respect and care for parents and the elderly.
We tend to forget that the way we treat our parents, our children will treat us in the same fashion, because that's the role model we are presenting to them. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
Though the number of these cases may not be very high, the fact that such abuses do exist and continue to increase is an alarming social problem.
These elderly persons have raised children and contributed to society and deserve to live out their sunset years in dignity. It is up to their family to look after them with all their physical and mental deficiencies. The state should provide help and the support to the care givers who sometimes face very difficult predicaments. Maldives is rich enough to be able to look after the elderly without them becoming a burden on their families and society. While laws are necessary, the starting point is that we have to open up our hearts and become a caring society. Unless we do it out of love and compassion, no amount of laws can solve this problem.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Virtual help for students
Harvard University computer science professor David Malan is providing "virtual office hours," allowing students to chat via text or microphone in live, online help sessions.
The professor who teaches 100 students says, "It's especially convenient if they're in their dorm, at Starbucks or on vacation. They can get help without physically making their way to the office. And it allows instructors to pop in at 11 p.m. or 1 a.m. … It's not feasible for us to be on campus at that time."
Malan is one of a growing number of professors in the United States turning to Internet technology to enhance course communication and connect with students.
Some faculty also use Facebook, the social-networking site, to post material or learn students' names.
Chad Rector, an assistant professor at George Washington University, uses Facebook to reconnect with former political science students. A "group" he created in October has nearly 100 members, who can send messages and post links, photos and videos.
"My idea is that I'll take questions from students about current events and answer them in a three- to five-minute video that refers back to ideas from the course," Rector says.
The professor who teaches 100 students says, "It's especially convenient if they're in their dorm, at Starbucks or on vacation. They can get help without physically making their way to the office. And it allows instructors to pop in at 11 p.m. or 1 a.m. … It's not feasible for us to be on campus at that time."
Malan is one of a growing number of professors in the United States turning to Internet technology to enhance course communication and connect with students.
Some faculty also use Facebook, the social-networking site, to post material or learn students' names.
Chad Rector, an assistant professor at George Washington University, uses Facebook to reconnect with former political science students. A "group" he created in October has nearly 100 members, who can send messages and post links, photos and videos.
"My idea is that I'll take questions from students about current events and answer them in a three- to five-minute video that refers back to ideas from the course," Rector says.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Grappling with health care
In United States, health care was the largest industry in 2006. It provided 14 million jobs—13.6 million jobs for wage and salary workers and about 438,000 jobs for the self-employed.
The U.S. is one of the world's few industrialized nations that does not guarantee access to health care. In the United States, around 84% of citizens have health insurance, either through their employer (60%), purchased individually (9%), or provided by government programs.
The US health care has now turned out to be a dysfunctional mess. About 45 million people do not have health insurance as they don't have the funds to pay the premiums. There is a growing consensus in America that time has come for a change to move away from the special interest groups like the insurance companies and drug companies who influence public policy.
On the presidential campaign trail Democratic contenders (shown in the video below) have spoken about introducing universal health care plans focusing on cutting costs via better access to preventive medicine.
The U.S. is one of the world's few industrialized nations that does not guarantee access to health care. In the United States, around 84% of citizens have health insurance, either through their employer (60%), purchased individually (9%), or provided by government programs.
The US health care has now turned out to be a dysfunctional mess. About 45 million people do not have health insurance as they don't have the funds to pay the premiums. There is a growing consensus in America that time has come for a change to move away from the special interest groups like the insurance companies and drug companies who influence public policy.
On the presidential campaign trail Democratic contenders (shown in the video below) have spoken about introducing universal health care plans focusing on cutting costs via better access to preventive medicine.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The evil behind the ego
- What happens to one of us, affects all of us since we are a small society.
What is true here that we are a small society. Our Capital Male', a 2 square km island has the most dense human population on the planet with 70,000. But what happens to one of us hardly has any bearing for the rest of us because the rest of us including our leaders and the Government continues with a business as usual attitude. The recent mob killing in Male' , increasing gang violence over the years and the alarming heroin addiction among our youth in Maldives is proof of this statement.
- We have always been a moderate nation.
The truth on this one is we have never been a moderate nation. We don't allow non-Muslims to practise their faith openly.
These are just a few of the empty cliches that shackle our society.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Bill Gates predicts
Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates has offered his take on the future of PCs. He says that people will see a sea change in the way they interact with computers in the coming five years.
Three years ago he spoke about the idea of the digital lifestyle. That our music, photos, TV, and communications would all be very different. And over these last three years it is really coming into the mainstream.
In a just released interview with BBC he is quoted as saying "this whole idea of what I call natural user interface is really redefining the experience."
"We're adding the ability to touch and directly manipulate, we're adding vision so the computer can see what you're doing, we're adding the pen, we're adding speech," he added.
Gates unveiled the Microsoft Surface computer, a large table like machine with a multi-touch interface, during the interview.
Three years ago he spoke about the idea of the digital lifestyle. That our music, photos, TV, and communications would all be very different. And over these last three years it is really coming into the mainstream.
In a just released interview with BBC he is quoted as saying "this whole idea of what I call natural user interface is really redefining the experience."
"We're adding the ability to touch and directly manipulate, we're adding vision so the computer can see what you're doing, we're adding the pen, we're adding speech," he added.
Gates unveiled the Microsoft Surface computer, a large table like machine with a multi-touch interface, during the interview.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Who cares for public interest?
Following the events after the brutal death of Evan Naseem in 2003 and under intense international pressure, the Maldivian Government was forced to undertake political reforms including the establishment of an independent judiciary and supreme court, and the setting up of a human rights commission. While the government has been largely reacting to events since then, the people of deprived islands have taken the law into their own hands. The people of Dhidhoo threw their fish into the government office when the collector vessel could not buy their catch. Since then it has become a common practise to force closure of offices in the islands or shut down the power generator until their demands are met. Things are going from bad to worse.
After the Human Rights Commission was set up 0n 10 October 2003, one more channel opened up to Maldivians to mount pressure on the Government to carry out the promised reforms.
While Maldives is still struggling to recover from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, our politicians are now preoccupied in the democratic process to build independent institutions for political governance. The public chase has intensified on the government that has a record of making bold statements and a very poor record of delivering them.
Efforts to eradicate drugs and treat addicts from drug addiction, a national epidemic among younger generation is a glaring example.
With the eyes of the world on Maldives, in June 2004 a special majlis, or parliament, was convened to consider changes in the constitution, including the legalization of political parties to bring democracy to the country.
What emerged from the special majlis over the next three years to revise a document that took 17 years to make has found several conspiracy theories. Some of them would include that government MP's deliberately fail to turn up to several meetings that were cancelled due to lack of quorum or the switching of unexpected political allegiances and affecting the voting patterns without any regard to public interest. All these makes the constitution of Maldives appear to be the worst enemy of the ordinary people of Maldives, the vast majority of whom make up the total of of 300,000 Muslims. The current constitution that some politicians praised as a world-class legal document turns out to have deprived the people of their rights and stands against good governance.
What an ominous misadventure the Maldivian constitution has been made out to be!!!
Tourism is the main industry, contributing almost 20 percent to the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind.Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing, agriculture and manufacturing play a lesser role in the economy.
The wealthy elites resident in Male' benefit from tourism disproportionately because the country does not have an income tax system.
Significant challenges still lie ahead in order to comply with democracy and good governance such as building up independent institutions in a country that does not have a civic culture or the political discipline to make speedy progress. Promises of structural development and creating employment are undertaken, usually around election time.
There is more to democratic systems than simply structures and formal institutions. From the creation of democratic institutions, it is necessary that a political culture that supports democratic ideals also emerge. We are in testing times and have a long way to go.
After the Human Rights Commission was set up 0n 10 October 2003, one more channel opened up to Maldivians to mount pressure on the Government to carry out the promised reforms.
While Maldives is still struggling to recover from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, our politicians are now preoccupied in the democratic process to build independent institutions for political governance. The public chase has intensified on the government that has a record of making bold statements and a very poor record of delivering them.
Efforts to eradicate drugs and treat addicts from drug addiction, a national epidemic among younger generation is a glaring example.
With the eyes of the world on Maldives, in June 2004 a special majlis, or parliament, was convened to consider changes in the constitution, including the legalization of political parties to bring democracy to the country.
What emerged from the special majlis over the next three years to revise a document that took 17 years to make has found several conspiracy theories. Some of them would include that government MP's deliberately fail to turn up to several meetings that were cancelled due to lack of quorum or the switching of unexpected political allegiances and affecting the voting patterns without any regard to public interest. All these makes the constitution of Maldives appear to be the worst enemy of the ordinary people of Maldives, the vast majority of whom make up the total of of 300,000 Muslims. The current constitution that some politicians praised as a world-class legal document turns out to have deprived the people of their rights and stands against good governance.
What an ominous misadventure the Maldivian constitution has been made out to be!!!
Tourism is the main industry, contributing almost 20 percent to the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind.Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing, agriculture and manufacturing play a lesser role in the economy.
The wealthy elites resident in Male' benefit from tourism disproportionately because the country does not have an income tax system.
Significant challenges still lie ahead in order to comply with democracy and good governance such as building up independent institutions in a country that does not have a civic culture or the political discipline to make speedy progress. Promises of structural development and creating employment are undertaken, usually around election time.
There is more to democratic systems than simply structures and formal institutions. From the creation of democratic institutions, it is necessary that a political culture that supports democratic ideals also emerge. We are in testing times and have a long way to go.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Socialism is not achievable
India is the world's twelfth largest economy and the economic reforms introduced in the 1990s have transformed this subcontinent of 1 billion people into the second fastest growing economy in the world.
India is also the largest democracy in the world. India is a federal republic which has twenty-eight states. The state of West Bengal is one of them. West Bengal is the hotbed of the Indian independence movement. Since independence in 1947, the state has for decades supported the Marxist communist ideology followed by the Communist Party of India- CPI (M). Its impoverishing economic effects have been widely felt in the state.
Aging CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu, 93, today said he supports West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's stand on capitalism, and it is needed to industrialise the state. "Socialism is not achievable at this point of time. We have been working within the capitalist system and as such private capital has to be used while social welfare programmes by the state government would continue," Basu told reporters in response to a question after attending a meeting of the party's state secretariat. "Socialism is a far cry. Socialism is our political agenda and it was mentioned in our party document but capitalism will continue to be the compulsion for the future", the CPI(M) politburo member said.
Source: Headlines India- January 05, 2008
India is also the largest democracy in the world. India is a federal republic which has twenty-eight states. The state of West Bengal is one of them. West Bengal is the hotbed of the Indian independence movement. Since independence in 1947, the state has for decades supported the Marxist communist ideology followed by the Communist Party of India- CPI (M). Its impoverishing economic effects have been widely felt in the state.
Aging CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu, 93, today said he supports West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's stand on capitalism, and it is needed to industrialise the state. "Socialism is not achievable at this point of time. We have been working within the capitalist system and as such private capital has to be used while social welfare programmes by the state government would continue," Basu told reporters in response to a question after attending a meeting of the party's state secretariat. "Socialism is a far cry. Socialism is our political agenda and it was mentioned in our party document but capitalism will continue to be the compulsion for the future", the CPI(M) politburo member said.
Source: Headlines India- January 05, 2008
India reduces import duty on 4800 items from SAARC
India has scrapped import duty on more than 4,800 items from four neighbouring countries and reduced customs tariff on these products from Pakistan and Sri Lanka as part of efforts to boost trade in South Asia.
"The import duty has been reduced from 16-40 per cent to zero level on items like meat, fish, milk, dairy products, and dry fruits from the neighbouring least developing countries (LDCs) - Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives," a finance ministry official said.
However, the duty rates on these items have been reduced to 12-20 per cent on goods imported from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The new rates come into effect from January 1.
Source: Indiabiznews, 05 january 2008
"The import duty has been reduced from 16-40 per cent to zero level on items like meat, fish, milk, dairy products, and dry fruits from the neighbouring least developing countries (LDCs) - Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives," a finance ministry official said.
However, the duty rates on these items have been reduced to 12-20 per cent on goods imported from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The new rates come into effect from January 1.
Source: Indiabiznews, 05 january 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Sleazy sex : Story of the year for Malaysians
It was only the second day into the New Year and probably Malaysians have got the story of the year.
Malaysia's health minister quit his post yesterday after a sex scandal in which he featured in two pornographic videos where he was shown with a woman he described as a "personal friend".
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, 60, quit all his government and political posts because Malaysians wanted him to do so after he admitted being the man in the sex DVD.
The drama had unfolded on the morning of New Year’s Eve when Dr Chua took his wife to meet the Prime Minister and admitted he was the man in the sex DVD. Rumors had already been circulating in Dr. Chua's Johor sate about the sleazy sex video tape.
Those who know the outspoken Johor politician were not surprised by his decision. He has always taken the bull by the horns and his public confession was classic Chua Soi Lek.
A man who does not mince his words, Dr Chua gained the respect of those who dealt with him. Many people consider him the best health minister Malaysia had.
Malaysians expect their leaders to keep to higher standards of conduct and it appears they are not prepared to forgive the moral failings of their elected leaders.
By his resignation, Dr Chua Soi Lek made the right decision to take responsibility for his actions and set a precedent for other politicians.
Malaysia's health minister quit his post yesterday after a sex scandal in which he featured in two pornographic videos where he was shown with a woman he described as a "personal friend".
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, 60, quit all his government and political posts because Malaysians wanted him to do so after he admitted being the man in the sex DVD.
The drama had unfolded on the morning of New Year’s Eve when Dr Chua took his wife to meet the Prime Minister and admitted he was the man in the sex DVD. Rumors had already been circulating in Dr. Chua's Johor sate about the sleazy sex video tape.
Those who know the outspoken Johor politician were not surprised by his decision. He has always taken the bull by the horns and his public confession was classic Chua Soi Lek.
A man who does not mince his words, Dr Chua gained the respect of those who dealt with him. Many people consider him the best health minister Malaysia had.
Malaysians expect their leaders to keep to higher standards of conduct and it appears they are not prepared to forgive the moral failings of their elected leaders.
By his resignation, Dr Chua Soi Lek made the right decision to take responsibility for his actions and set a precedent for other politicians.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Rising religious tension
One of the biggest dangers that Maldives will face in the future will be religious intolerance within its own community.
Last Friday a number of Maldivians left a mosque in Male' when they knew that Dr. Afrashim Ali was to recite the sermon and lead the prayer.
While everyone has right to go to any any mosque they like, the refusal to be led by a particular Imam raises serious questions. To the liberal Muslims, those who refuse to be led by Dr. Afrashim who holds liberal views including on music that has aroused controversy will be seen as radical conservatives.
We have already seen the consequences of the religious divide in Hinmadhoo and Male' where a group of people followed an uncompromising separatist view of practising Islam.
Maldives is one of the most intolerant countries in the world, in terms of religion. The Maldivian government will have to decide on Imams that will be acceptable to all, and if that cannot be achieved they may have to have dedicated mosques for different Imams. We will then be practising divide and rule at its best.
Tolerance of religious differences must taught in schools and practised in the country by politicians if the people of our country are to live in peaceful co-existence.
Last Friday a number of Maldivians left a mosque in Male' when they knew that Dr. Afrashim Ali was to recite the sermon and lead the prayer.
While everyone has right to go to any any mosque they like, the refusal to be led by a particular Imam raises serious questions. To the liberal Muslims, those who refuse to be led by Dr. Afrashim who holds liberal views including on music that has aroused controversy will be seen as radical conservatives.
We have already seen the consequences of the religious divide in Hinmadhoo and Male' where a group of people followed an uncompromising separatist view of practising Islam.
Maldives is one of the most intolerant countries in the world, in terms of religion. The Maldivian government will have to decide on Imams that will be acceptable to all, and if that cannot be achieved they may have to have dedicated mosques for different Imams. We will then be practising divide and rule at its best.
Tolerance of religious differences must taught in schools and practised in the country by politicians if the people of our country are to live in peaceful co-existence.
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