Friday, July 3, 2009

Thank you Mr.President for arresting 2nd of the six drug lords..

Maldives Police have arrested the second of six drug lords whose identities President Mohamed Nasheed said was known to the government. According to police, the man was arrested in a special operation in Addu Atoll. He is Adam Naseer Aboobakur , H. Reendhooge.
Current government is working very hard to stop this menace and eradicate drugs from the country. Thank you Police service and I salute His Excellency President Nasheed for his sincere effort. Its being worth enough to bring this change of government, a change from autocratic to good governance. 

Monday, June 15, 2009

President Mohamed Nasheed: The visionary man!

President Nasheed is an extraordinary president. He is a courageous, visionary president with immense patience and goodwill to its citizens. 
He is the architect of modern democracy in the Maldives. During his fight he spent several years in solitary confinement and he has been a victim of torture, agony and sufferings. In return he was asking for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, social justice, multiparty governance, equal opportunities etc. At the end he was able to achieve all these basic fundamentals of modern and a just society.
Now it is the strong struggle to accomplish the dreams of the Maldivians. To get adequate basic needs and social services. A harmonious society with no social problems, free of drugs and safer community that is better off for our citizens.
Within six-months of his presidency, he is able to provide social protection for the elderly by giving 2000 rufiyaa per month as pension and free health insurance. 
Within six-months of his presidency, he has started fundamental changes to the governing system of the country by planning a more realistic de-centralization mechanism. Yet its bill needs to be made. Although in some province offices provide ID card and other transport ministry related document issuing. That includes different types of licenses that has being issuing in male’ only for the past many hundred years.
Within six-months of his presidency, he also has brought drastic positive changes to the MNDF. Regionalizing the defense force by forming a southern, central and a northern command so that their ability to secure and protect the people of the country is being enhanced more than ever.
Within six-months of his presidency, he has decreased the drug addicts from the streets at least. Previously it’s a common scenario that we find so many drug users in the street making our life more risky. In addition to this, there is an increase in confiscating of drugs by the Maldives police service, hopefully removing some of the drugs that may end up in the hands of our youth. Adding to that, there were also some new measures being addressed including the private ports used in Thilafushi.
Within six-months of his presidency, he was able to apprehend more child abusing networks that has being operating in this country for 10 long years in secret. 
Throughout the six-months of his presidency, we can see religious scholars freely giving their own sermons without any fear and intimidation. An Islamic affairs ministry is being formed along with a Fiqh academy. 
Throughout the six-months of his presidency, widespread torture in jails and detention centers are being minimized or bring to an end. And if there is any such misconduct from an officer, its being investigated and appropriate reprimand is been given.
During the six-months of his presidency, he also has proposed bills on reducing duty to some items, tax bills etc. which are essential as this is the way how other developed countries practice too.
This six-month period is the most fear free, and no intimidation and threat less time for freedom of expression, in a recent history. Everyone is free to express their views and opinions without any fear and apprehension.
The previous government was famous for its rhetoric on global warming and other environmental consequences for the Maldives. But it is this new government who propose and plans methods that can practically help the Maldives in its effort of reducing the environmental consequences to the country. In this regard the government put forward a plan on carbon neutrality of Maldives within the next 10 year period.
During the six-months of his presidency, the government has open the Maldives for investments and a successful economic policy of privatization is on the emerge. Plans are also being made to improve the standards of education through high standard schools such as the international schools. Making the schools, single session. Some hospitals are also been available to improve their standards through public-private partnerships and then managing with more quality equipments and services.
During the six-months of his presidency, president nasheed has decreased the presidential spendings from approximately 140million rufiyaa to around 40 million rufiyaa thereby reducing the waste and corruption of public funds.
I’m sure I could write much more of the changes that we have seen so far, for which we brought the change of government.


Friday, June 5, 2009

privatization and de-nationalisation on the emerge.


One unique policies of the new government is privatization. Its seems they have a vision on this policy. A mental picture of this leading to a more prosperous and a thriving Maldives probably in their terms ‘’the other Maldives’’.

In any developed societies there comes a transition, a change over, from glooming days to a prosperous era. And in most of those countries, this economic transition was brought with the help of privatization. It changes from an era of darkness to flourishing days.

One example is the UK.late 1970s privatization policy was first used in UK. Elected in 1979, the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher favoured increasing competition. At the same time, ministers were obliged to address the problem of government budget deficits. After this there was no looking back. By 1990 42 major businesses employing almost 900,000 people had been sold off, with large privatisations planned to continue into the middle of the decade. Although there were so much of criticisms just like that in Maldives. At that time in UK, a former prime minister, Harold Macmillan, famously grumbled about "selling the family silver", and had the Labour Party been elected in 1987, they would have reversed the process.
In the Maldives critics says it is selling the assets of the country there by affecting the sovereignty and Islamic faith of the nations. 
Anyways this is the time for change, change of governments, change of people, change of minds and change of policies in line with the 21st century for a better Maldives.


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

newly appointed ministers and Attorney General


The newly appointed ministers are widely beleived to be very capable and the best choice that can be appointed right now. They have the cradibility as well as the integrity of most of the people. Lets hope that they will carryout their duties according to the laws and the expectation of the people.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

corruption allegations of former govrnment


Recent news headline is mainly focusing on corruption charges, misappropriation of public funds and its investigations and arrests of political figures. Here is a list of amount of money that has being specifically mentioned in the different audit reports by the auditor general , rated almost as embezzled state funds. These are just some of it I have taken from those audit reports. There are also so many other fraudulent cases without mentioning specific amounts.
Mifco: 
6.64 million RF
Island aviation:
29.5 million RF
Minstry of atolls
39,500/-
800,000/-
525,653/-
45,172/-
4.48 million RF
Ministry of public works
3.6 million RF
28.99 million RF
2.09 million RF
Ministry of fisheries 
53,375/-
Ministry of energy 
10.4 million RF
400,000/-
2281,038/-
1.6 million RF
312,558/-
Ministry of higher education
37 million RF
1154,690/- US dollars
20,000
1688,829/-
156,328/-
Customs
3190,099 US DOLLARS
206,884 US DOLARS
President’s office
711,00/-
6.3 million RF
Presidential palace
6900/- sing.$
23,756/- sing $
50,022/- sing $
20,686/- sing $
2.3 million RF
1.4 million sing
500000/-
2.3 million RF
1.5 million RF
1.1 million RF
28,291/-
4 million RF

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

MDP pledges vs DRP agenda

Recent parliamentary election campaign in the Maldives was mainly based on one debate, but in two different ways. MDP was campaigning hard based on the fact that it is necessary for them to get a majority in the majilis in order to fulfill their presidential campaign pledges. They believe that opposition will try to hinder their projects and make things difficult for the government. On the other hand, DRP was promoting the fact that an opposition party can only make the government accountable. So that pledges can be fulfilled. 
Well the two arguments can be acceptable based on their honesty. Both the parties seem focusing to fulfill the pledges. DRP questions who do not want proper housing, transportation system, cheap healthcare, eradication of drugs etc. They too also want those services to be provided to the people. 
Well my point here is everyone agrees housing but the two parties may have different housing policies. MDP for example wants this pledge to be achieved through privatization and most of their economic activities and pledges are designed in such a way that they fulfill those through privatization. But certainly DRP is against it. They have been misleading people on this privatization policy comparing it as selling the national assets to foreigners and hence affecting the Islamic faith and the sovereignty of the country. They have gone this far. So how are they going to help the government to deliver their pledges? 
Opposition parties need to understand the fact that this government came to power with a different policy to achieve the things the people of this country deserves so long. We will be watching closely the majilis debates and let’s see what happens.


Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mohamed Nasheed:The Maldivian President..


Very often people say president Nasheed’s government was formed based on the support of Dr.Hassan Saeed and Gasim’s JP. In the first round of the presidential election only 25% of people gave their support to the MDP. So that MDP’s government is more of Gasim’s and Hassan Saeed.
In my opinion,in a presidential system people have the chance of voting from a list of candidates. So as in many countries,a run-off is likely to take place. In that case people will chose one from the two front runners ultimately electing one and rejecting one. Even in this case it’s the people who decide and it’s the people who give supports to elect a president. Together the two rounds it’s what we call a complete election in that particular case. So we just can’t say its only 25% that supports president. The final result is the people’s verdict. Out of the two candidates, one that is better for the people will be given their vote. It also does not mean it’s the people’s dream person. Even Hassan saeed and Gasim, they don’t have any other option other than supporting to Nasheed.
If we take US election, there were many factions that endorse their support to president Obama such as the black communities, immigrants, Ted Kennedy family etc. well at the end no American call it is a black community president and so on. Factions, parties can endorse a particular candidate but that doesn’t mean the whole government is all about them and their interest. In presidential system there aren’t any incentives for coalition formation. It’s a feature of parliamentary system of governance. 
So its high time people as well as politicians to get familiar with the system. You will be voting to the candidate with his affiliation let it be MDP or DRP whatever not to a coalition.