Who am I? Where am I?

From the very childhood onwards, I knew I am a Maldivian. I knew I believe in Islam. I knew my country is a very beautiful place. And I knew my nation was so peaceful that some says it is heaven on earth. In short, I knew who I am.

We had a long tradition of peace and harmony. Friendship, share and care, hospitality were assets of this nation, for which our forefathers. Islam was the pillar that we said could never be moved as long as we were named Maldivians.

Today, things have changed, with development, globalization, education, and the ever changing world, we have changed. Our country is developing. New buildings, better projects, higher education and so on. Industries are flourishing, democracy is settling itself, economic changes are taking place. The thinking, believes and the ways of life have changed than ever before.

With the good news, also came the bad side. As we imported almost everything, we failed to make sure that we import only the good things. The result is proving to be disastrous.

We brought a new governing system; democracy, in this we made it very blunt that we accept nothing other than the best option available.

We brought international syllabus and education; that too, we decided to bring the best.

We brought every fashion that was there out on market; once again the best fashion we did go for.

That sounds good, yet not so good. We did bring things that we should have never brought.

We can use a machine made in Japan, or China, yet that is no excuse for us to change our life in their way. However that was what we did. Today, as we bring tourists from around the world, to show us our beaches, traditions and culture, I wonder what we now have got to show to them. In their countries they do see drug edicts, they do see rape cases, murders etc... Guess all that is left is the white beaches. Surely not the peace and harmony, surely not the hospitality and respect to each other and not the Maldivian way of life too.

We have very successfully built a Male' Hulhumale', and other steps in development. Unfortunately we have very successfully forgotten to build a generation that could take up the challenges and move ahead with the nation in this competitive world.

The children today have no idea, who they are. If not to all, surely to most this is the grave reality. They hesitate to respect anyone. They feel ashamed to obey any rules. They feel so weird to be asked to live up to the values and norms of this society. Indeed they don't understand the norms and values of society nor do they know its importance. The results we saw on our roads and jails. The worsts are yet to come. The new generation of parents seems to be very keen to make sure their kids speak English from day one, leaving the last hope in risk.

If things goes as it is, tomorrow the people of this society will not be sure who they are and where they are from. Maybe time has come for us to take up the word "nationhood" a bit more seriously.



Photos:
shahidul.wordpress.com/2008/06/
http://chrissymaries.blogspot.com/2009/05/maldives-part-4-guraidhoo.html
http://www.maldivesisles.com/images/people.jpg

civil servants...in the middle of no where?

few facts that we could recall before going ahead.....

1. There is an economic problem in our country. Some says an economic down turn. Government and international organisations and opposition also seems to agree on this. (opposition says government spending tell a different story)

2. The Independent bodies are got the "high" salary as they got before the 3 month salary reductions.

3. The Parliament very clearly rejected to cut a single Laari from their salary. (though we today see some of them very sympathetic to civil servants)

4. The salary was reduced for a period of 3 months with the possibility of extending if necessary by further observation of the situation on ground.


salary of civil servants; the big topic in every sitting room and every dining room.

What should we really do? CSC says government is so very wrong for not giving "high salary" and the government says CSC is very wrong for asking to pay "high salary".


Now, we see the civil servants been squeezed by both sides. For them its like mom and dad on either side and someone asks.."whom do you love more? Mom?????? or Dad?????"

The question is why did this happen?
We make a government to serve the people, we make independent bodies to serve the people. Yet, unfortunately, we see them hell bent on fighting each other and the poor citizens are caught in the middle of the war. Had the government and CSC negotiated well in advance, than the last two days, maybe a path could have been found. Now that this has become a big problem, the question is what should be done?

I believe, there is a real economic problem in this nation. Yes, I do understand that many political appointees are there. Yet, it is no excuse to believe that there is no problem. Not every student will try to pass just because they got low marks once. Surely the government doesn't need my advice, yet as this is my nation, I think there are few things that we need to do in order to act in the national best interest.

1. The government must stop been a top heavy government. I wonder on average how many appointees come a day.
2. The government must give the salary of this month as announced by CSC.
3. The government must ask for a reduction in salary from next month onwards if necessary.
4. CSC must start giving more cooperation to government but not becoming a puppet.
5. The independent bodies, must reduce their own salary if the civil servants salary is reduced once again.
6. The Parliament should bring the salary to a reasonable amount. (they play hide and seek most of the time and thier salary reaches the sky)

At the end of the day, I think the best decision will be to keep the 3 month low salary as permanent salary level. This could be done only by reducing the salary of all other public paid's as well. If not, there will not be a way out of this anger and disturbance that many people are going through.

Reform Parties...

In the name of democracy, reform and good governing, we saw the light of political parties in Maldives.



The political parties of Maldives surely played a very vital role in the drastic political changes that the country recently saw. Now the new constitution is adopted, a new government is in place, and we are faced with an era of multi-party governing system. The question is how the parties are performing.



According to the Elections Commission of Maldives, there are 13 registered political parties in the country. Let me go one by one to share what I see and feel about each.



1. DRP- Still holds the most populous party in the nation. The DRP is getting settled with the reality of losing the presidential election in the second round. They did show a good performance in the Parliamentary election with largest number of seat won by a single party. DRP as an opposition is very successful in pulling the MDP government back to knees more often than MDP could afford to.

However, DRP seems to be too much interested in power at times. As a result the wrong message about some sensitive issues like economic problems is given. This could have a wrong impact and could lose some educated and experienced members and public confidence as a result. The DRP headed by Maumoon is an issue many criticize. The reality is that DRP has its bonds and cooperation solely on the foundation of Maumoon. A day without Maumoon in leadership will be a day DRP divides into factions. They cannot afford this. At the same time DRP, I believe cannot take Maumoon as her next presidential candidate which will again prove wrong. DRP needs a reform. They need to hold their bond and at the same time bring about a change to the leadership, with a strong person, yet in a way that Maumoon still is in picture. As for a sustainable party, DRP needs to make it a party that could be strongly held regardless of presence or absence of Maumoon. DRP need to reform yet not reshape into more parties.



2. MDP- The government party. MDP is not a party that stands by its organizational structure or the leadership. Indeed it is a party that stands because her members want it that way. The way MDP bends the parliament as they wish very often is a strong point they have regardless of been the minority party. MDP also has proved they don’t dare to take the necessary actions to bring economy and society back to track even with the risk of losing the popularity of party.



However, MDP though calls for the reform of DRP is in more needs to reform. I think MDP yet didn’t learn to be a ruling party. It seems it’s too hard for MDP to do her party business and government business at once. MDP is also having trouble showing to her members, the line that cuts them and separates between party and government. MDP over the period after taking the government has increased membership level yet still, fails to do enough to keep existing members. The leadership of MDP needs to do their job to make life of government easy. Had the leadership succeeded in persuading her members that only one MDP member should run for every seat and had they ensured that credible people competes, the difficulties they see today will not be faced. MDP needs to reform them. The failure could end up in even bitter results in council elections.



3. Adhaalath- Islamic ministry is doing a good job. Adhaalath has played a noticeable role to bring awareness about religious issues in country. Also, they have proved quiet successful in coping with MDP.


However, Adhaalath has more of changed itself from a party to a ministry. The activities of party are taken as the activities of Islamic ministry. Once I remember Adhaalath "showing yellow card" at parties but today they are too busy with ministry. Adhaalth needs to keep its identity, if not we may one day see a department in Maldives rather than a ministry that is named Adhaalth or justice and the story of the Adhaalath party could be named as history. Moreover, the President of Adhaalath is the State Home Minster, member of Presidential commission. Wonder why Adhaalath blamed Maumoon for been DRP leader, president and defense minister at once. Adaalath too needs a reform.

4. IDP- To tell truth, when the name hit my ear, Umar comes to mind. Now that he joined DRP the future of party is yet to be decided party. I don’t know if the party is yet dissolved or not. As a person I think Umar would have been better off to wait, yet as a party, he may be right that small parties are out of picture. If the party is not dissolved, it’s high time they pack well and start over the journey from zero.

5- PA - Yameen and his supporters. Now that Yameen announced his desire to run for presidential election, PA needs to do a lot to change the way people looks at the party. The performance of PA in parliament as the member of opposition is good enough. Yet, if PA is to win any elections PA must need the backing of "brother" party; DRP. PA could stand on its own if she improves relation with public. If not, PA could be only YA (Yamin A).

6- GP- Gaumee party is very active these days and friendly with media as well. Unlike the beginnig with 3 "Docs", party is becoming more customised, and friendly. This could be a good sign, yet in pariment with the 2 available seats, a better role could be palyed.

7. 8. 9.10- SLP. JP. Iththihaadh. MNC- Four parties that seem silent than ever before after the elections. SLP and Ithithihaadh I guess are happy with the cabinet seats. But that will not be the case always. JP represented by Gasim has lost her credibility to raise voice in Maldivian political stage. MNC? I know nothing more than Naeem and the flower they have!!! All needs to be more active or stop taking the money from budget.


11. 12. 13. - MSDP. LP. PP- Let me put like this. Each of these parties is a one man show game. And needs extreme reform or needs to be dissolved.

Over all, the parties need to stop useless and unproductive arguments and start working in the best interest of nation. If not failure could be more near than far.

Local Teachers............

Local teachers are good. They can explain better. They will take more care of students. Locals will have more talents.

I use to hear this story since I joined Hithadhoo School back in 2005 after my A' Level. Now, the noise is well loud enough that the whole society can hear it. All schools wants to get local teachers. Faculty of Education (FE) of MCHE seems to be busy training the very much demanded locals. I too happened to be under the umbrella of FE.

As someone who got a chance to study from both locals and expatriates I do agree that locals could better teach the Maldivian students. Yet, a mere could will not do the magic. The question is will it happen? Will it be as fruitful as we hope? I doubt.

Though I myself is a student of FE, it is true that there is a lot more attention given to quantity than quality. Many student teachers who are presently studying and many who already finished asks questions about the quality. This is something to be considered.

Also, a very large majority of trainee teachers are ladies. I am not saying they can not cope with the present school situations, indeed they can. However, it is true that due to our ways of life, very often ladies stay at home often after getting kids. This could lead to frequent changes in teachers which does not sound good for students.

Moreover, there is a lot of divisions in our society. These divisions, regardless of we want or not, will penetrate to our schools as well. Can a didvided team of teachers really cater for a school and bring out what the society looks forward?

At last it is also true that some though with a lot of training, fails to work even up to the level of many expatriate teachers. Moreover, some, with the skills and potential with them, don't use it.

You may ask me if this is a suicide attempt:) or whatever, but, I just have one question. Will it be OK to anyone as long as he or she is a local? Wonder how this new experiment will end.

Did DRP make a mistake?

The past few days, we saw some big dramas played in our Parliament in the name of protecting the people's rights. Two parties were on two extremely different sides and each claimed they were toiling for the good of the people. I just thought....OK this is the so called dirty politics.

Now, that government has decided to withdraw the bill on decentralization, question is who lost and who won?

The bill is at first has proved that government has still to lobby the opposition if they were ever to get through the Parliament. At the same time, it also has proved to the opposition that a mere majority does not make them the boss of Parliament either.

This could mean a postpone in council elections. That could be a turning point of the picture.

I think, DRP will be better off, had they allowed this to get through Parliament. The reasons are simple.

MDP led government has already established provinces. Very honestly, the provinces have not been performing as promising as many people wanted. As a result, a lot of MDP members who are now in the jobs in the provinces have lost the faith of many people as credible leaders for 'tomorrows' council elections. On the other side,DRP can show their fresh members who were not tested under the present system.

Government wants to reduce civil servants. This has upset many people- a golden chance to an opposition.The reduction in salary for 3 months angered many. Also, the increase in salary next month, many believes was a DRP initiative. The past one or more year, the present government has tried to deal with more of economic reforms than material development. This means people will see less been done.

With these reasons and the bond among members of DRP, it will be better had they tried to allow the provinces and get into these provinces through election at this hard time of government. The truth is, government, be it DRP or MDP will be strong. They said that even if this bill do not pass, they still have chance and will establish provinces. If then, why wait and create chances for government to give excuses to postpone the elections till they gain the support they need. I think it will be a mistake to give that chance, when it comes to an opposition. Yet, my ideas may not be the same as you or anyone else.